← VCE Spreadsheets, SQL & Visualisation

What is a relational database?

A database that stores data in separate tables of fields (columns) and records (rows), with tables linked by shared values such as keys.

Part of: VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 36, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 14, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 36, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Acquiring, storing and validating data — Module 18, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Acquiring and Validating Data — Module 60, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Entities, Relationships and Queries — Module 6, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data-Driven Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 62, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data and Programming Techniques — Module 83, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Prototype Data Solutions — Module 2, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 3 — Interactions Between Users, Data and Digital Systems — Module 90, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 3 — Real-World Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 31, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Data Management — Module 20

Understanding What is a relational database? in VCE Spreadsheets, SQL & Visualisation

What it does: StudentID, FirstName and Year are the fields (columns) of the Students table, and each describes one kind of data. The matching ClassID value in both tables links each student record to a class record without repeating the class details. A relational database splits data into separate tables and links them using shared values such as keys. Spreadsheets are often a single grid. Relational databases are built to link many tables. Each column is a field, so there are 3. The number of students decides the number of records (rows). The headings name the fields. They are not a record, so only the 30 data rows count.

Common mistakes: StudentID, Name and Year are the column headings, so they are fields, not records. Line 2 should start with 'Fields:'. Records are the rows of data below. Values in a record must follow the same order as the fields. BookID comes first, then Title, so the record should be 'Record: 1, Holes'.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 35–44) and word search (Modules 35–54).

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Learning
Duo
In a relational database, what does one record represent?
One row, such as a single studentOne column, such as all student names
Matches
A relational database is one big sheet where every fact is repeated on each row
↓
A relational database splits data into separate linked tables so facts are stored once, not repeated in one big sheet
Applying
Meanings
Term
relational database
Meaning
A database that stores data in separate tables of fields (columns) and records (rows), with tables linked by shared values such as keys.
Practice
Table: Students
Testing
Gaps
: Students
Check Answer
Spots
1Table: Students
2Records: StudentID, Name, Year

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Quick Questions

1. In a relational database, what does one record represent?
A. One column, such as all student names
B. One row, such as a single student ✓
A record is a row. It holds all the details about one item, like one student or one product.
2. In a relational database, what is a field?
A. A column that holds one type of data, like Surname ✓
B. A whole table of linked data
A field is a column. Each field stores one kind of detail, such as Surname or Year_Level.
3. Which statement describes a relational database best?
A. One giant sheet holding all the data
B. Separate tables linked by shared values ✓
A relational database splits data into separate tables and links them using shared values such as keys.
4. A school stores Students in one table and Subjects in another. How do they connect?
A. Through a shared value, like a student ID ✓
B. By copying every subject into the Students table
Tables are linked by shared values. Copying data everywhere wastes space and causes errors.
5. Which is a difference between a database and a spreadsheet?
A. A database links many tables together ✓
B. A database can only ever hold one table
Spreadsheets are often a single grid. Relational databases are built to link many tables.

Match the Pairs

Table → A grid that stores one type of thing, such as Students or Subjects, with its own fields and records
Record → One row in a table that holds all the data about a single item, such as one student
A field is a column that holds one kind of data about every record in a table → Students(StudentID, FirstName, Year)
Two tables are linked by a shared value, so data is stored once and connected → Students.ClassID = Classes.ClassID
A relational database is one big sheet where every fact is repeated on each row → A relational database splits data into separate linked tables so facts are stored once, not repeated in one big sheet
A record is a column and a field is a row → The terms are swapped: a record is a row and a field is a column

Key Term

relational database
A database that stores data in separate tables of fields (columns) and records (rows), with tables linked by shared values such as keys.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Table: Students Fields: StudentID, Name, Year Record: 101, Mia, 9
Hint: Type the word for a named collection of related data made of columns and rows.
2. Table: Students Fields: StudentID, Name, Year Record: 101, Mia, 9
Hint: Type the plural word for the columns that describe each type of data.
3. Table: Students Fields: StudentID, Name, Year Record: 101, Mia, 9
Hint: Type the word for one complete row of data about a single item.
4. Table: Loans(LoanID, StudentID, BookID) Table: Students(StudentID, Name, Year) Link: Loans.StudentID = Students.StudentID
Hint: Type the field name that appears in both tables and links them together.
5. Spreadsheet: one sheet Database: many tables linked by keys
Hint: Type the word for the separate collections of data that a relational database uses.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Table: Students
B Records: StudentID, Name, Year
C Record: 101, Mia, 9
D Record: 102, Ben, 10
Line B — StudentID, Name and Year are the column headings, so they are fields, not records. Line 2 should start with 'Fields:'. Records are the rows of data below.
Question 2
A Table: Books
B Fields: BookID, Title
C Record: Holes, 1
D Record: 2, Hatchet
Line C — Values in a record must follow the same order as the fields. BookID comes first, then Title, so the record should be 'Record: 1, Holes'.
Question 3
A Table: Students
B Fields: StudentID, Name
C Table: Loans
D Fields: LoanID, Book
E Linked by: StudentID
Line D — The Loans table must contain StudentID so it shares a value with the Students table. Without it the tables cannot be linked. It should be 'Fields: LoanID, StudentID'.
Question 4
A Spreadsheet: a single sheet
B Database: many linked tables
C Tables join on shared values
D Each record is one column
Line D — A record is one row of a table, holding all the data about one item. A column is a field. It should be 'Each record is one row'.
Question 5
A Table: Songs
B Fields: SongID, Title
C Record: 1, Sunrise, Luna
D Record: 2, Moon, Kite
Line B — Each record has three values, so the table needs three fields. The Artist field is missing. It should be 'Fields: SongID, Title, Artist'.

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