What is Database Table

• A database table is a fundamental concept in relational database management systems (RDBMS). It is a structured collection of data organized in rows and columns. Tables are used to store and represent data in a way that allows for efficient data retrieval, manipulation, and management.

Here are some key points about database tables:

• Structure: A table consists of rows (also known as records or tuples) and columns (also known as fields). Each row represents a single instance or record of data, and each column represents a specific attribute or characteristic of that data.

• Rows: Each row in a table contains a unique combination of data values that uniquely identify that record. For example, in a table of employees, each row might represent a single employee, and one of the columns could be the employee ID, ensuring each row has a distinct identifier.

• Columns: Each column holds data of a specific type and represents a particular attribute of the data. For instance, in an employee table, columns might include attributes such as name, age, job title, salary, etc.

• Primary Key: In many cases, one of the columns in the table is designated as the primary key. The primary key is a unique identifier for each row in the table, ensuring that each record can be uniquely identified.

• Relationships: Tables can have relationships with one another. For example, in a database for a school, a student table may have a relationship with a course table through a common field like a student ID or a course ID.

• Normalization: Database tables are often designed following normalization principles, which help to minimize data redundancy and maintain data integrity.

• SQL Operations: To interact with database tables, you use Structured Query Language (SQL) commands like SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE. These commands allow you to query, add, modify, and delete data in the tables.

• Database tables are crucial for organizing and managing data efficiently in relational databases, making them an integral part of most modern software applications and systems that handle large amounts of structured data.