Introduction to Databases for the Web: Pt. 1

It is most likely that as a web developer, you will be working with one of the modern relational databases and that you will be able to work in conjunction with an existing database administrator. That is, this tutorial is limited to the "use" of databases rather than to the creation and administration of them. In fact, the creation and administration of databases is a topic well beyond the scope of this tutorial and probably well beyond the scope of your job. After all, database administration is its own entire job description.

However, we have been spending a lot of time going through general database theory because although you may not be designing databases yourself, in order to take the most advantage of them, it is important that you understand how they work. Likewise, it is important that you have a feel for good database design. After all, a database's usefulness is directly proportional to the sleekness and efficiency of its design. And your ability to take advantage of a database is directly proportional to your ability to decipher and internalize that design.

When thinking about good database design, it is important that you keep data retrieval, storage and modification efficiency in mind. It will pay off one thousand fold if you take a week or two to simply play with different arrangements of data. You will find that certain table structures will provide easier and more intuitive access than others.

Tables should describe only one subject, have distinct fields, contain no redundant data, and have a field with unique values so that the table can be related to others.

You should also keep in mind future expansion of the database and make sure that your design is easily extensible.

Typically, you will go through a requirements phase in which you should simply sit with the problem, interview users, and achieve an intuition about the data and the project.

Next, you should spend time modeling the data, preferably using some standard methodology like ER Diagramming. However, even if you do not model in any traditional way, you can still play with different ideas and think about the pros and cons.

Finally, you should try out your ideas and hone them through limited trials.

Hopefully, you will also choose a database with full- functionality such as security and concurrency control (making sure that two users cannot simultaneously change a record). There are many excellent choices available in the market today from freeware to commercial products.

Of course, as we said above, you will probably be coming onto a project with an already existing database. This is the case for most web developers. In this case, you should work closely with the database administrator to define the database.

At the very least you should sit down over a brew one evening and discuss the database design thoroughly.