Class X | IT (402) | Unit 3: RDBMS — Classwork Notes

UNIT 3: RELATIONAL DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (RDBMS)

Classwork Notes | Subject: Information Technology (Code 402) | CBSE Class X

1. Database & DBMS — The Basics

A database is an organised collection of related data, stored so it can be easily used, updated and searched. A DBMS (Database Management
System) is the software that creates, stores, controls and manages the database.
In simple words: Think of a database as a very organised almirah (cupboard) — everything has its own labelled shelf. The DBMS is the
person (or software) who knows exactly where to keep and find every item quickly, without duplicating anything.
Examples of DBMS software: Oracle, MySQL, MS Access, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, OpenOffice Base, SQLite.
Data Organisation — Two Types
Type Meaning
Flat File Data stored in a single table — suitable for small amounts of data.
Relational Data stored in multiple linked tables — suitable for medium/large data.

Advantages of a Database (Quick List)

● Less Data Redundancy — no duplicate copies of data.
● Data Sharing — many authorised users can access data at once.
● Data Integrity — data stays accurate & consistent.
● Data Security — access only with username/password.
● Privacy — users see only what they are permitted to see.
● Backup & Recovery — DBMS auto-restores data after a crash.
● Data Consistency — one change reflects everywhere instantly.
Key Terms of a Database
Example — an Address Book:
Term Meaning Address-Book Example
Field A single question/property asked about an item Name, Phone Number
Record One complete set of field values (a row) One friend's full entry
Value The actual data typed in "Riya", "9876543210"
Table A grid/collection of similar records The whole address book
In simple words: A table is like a class attendance register: each COLUMN is a field (Name, Roll No.), each ROW is one student's
record, and each box is a value.
Primary Key, Composite Key & Foreign Key
A table can have duplicate names (two "Rahul"s), so we need one field with 100% unique values to identify each row — this is the Primary
Key (PK). Sometimes a single column is not enough to guarantee uniqueness by itself — for example, in an Exam_Marks table, RollNo
alone repeats once for every subject a student appears in. In such cases, two or more columns are combined and made the key together — e.g.
(RollNo + SubjectCode) — and this is called a Composite Primary Key.
When two tables are related, the PK of the parent table is copied into the child table to link them — there it is called a Foreign Key (FK).
Client Table (Parent) Sales Table (Child)
ClientID (PK) — appears once per client ClientID (FK) — repeats for every order the client places
In simple words: Remember: ONE–Parent–PK ; MANY–Child–FK. The parent's ID card number becomes a reference entry in every
child record that belongs to it. In short — a Primary Key uniquely identifies rows within its own table, while a Foreign Key only refers
back to a Primary Key sitting in another table.

2. Database Objects & Data Types

Object Also Called Meaning
Table Relation A set of data arranged in rows & columns
Column Field / Attribute One property of the item (e.g. FirstName)

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 Class X | IT (402) | Unit 3: RDBMS — Classwork Notes

Object Also Called Meaning

Row Record / Tuple One complete data item in the table

Data Types — 5 Categories

Category Used to Store
Numeric Marks, Roll No., Mobile No., statistical values
Alphanumeric (Text) Name, Address, Subject (letters + numbers)
Binary Photos, music/audio, other file formats
Date/Time Date of Birth, Date of Admission, Sale Date
Other Special/variable formats (e.g. Yes/No, memo)

3. Table Operations, Relationships & Referential Integrity

Records can be Inserted, Edited (updated) or Deleted directly in a table's Datasheet View. Field properties (Length, Default Value, Entry
Required, Format) are set in the table's Design View.
Types of Relationships Between Tables
Relationship Rule Real-life Example
One-to-One Both tables have a Primary Key; one record in Table A One Employee has exactly one Passport
links to exactly one record in Table B. record.
One-to-Many One record in the parent (PK) table links to many records One Teacher takes classes for many
in the child (FK) table. Students.
Many-to-Many Records in both tables can link to many records in the Many Students enrol in many different
other. Subjects.
In simple words: One-to-Many is like ONE teacher (parent) taking classes for MANY students (child) — but each student has only that
one class teacher.
Referential Integrity
A rule that keeps data accurate and consistent between related tables. It blocks you from:
● Adding a child record whose foreign key has no matching record in the parent table.
● Changing/deleting a parent key value if matching child records still exist.

4. Retrieving & Modifying Data (SQL)

SQL (Structured Query Language) is used to create database structures (DDL) and to manipulate the data stored in them (DML).
DDL (Data Definition Language) DML (Data Manipulation Language)
Defines/changes table structure — e.g. CREATE, ALTER Works with the data itself — e.g. SELECT, INSERT,
UPDATE, DELETE

SELECT — Retrieving Data

Retrieves rows from a table. Can use WHERE (filter which rows) and ORDER BY (sort the rows; default is ASC — ascending).
SELECT * FROM SDetails;
-- shows every column & row of table SDetails
SELECT * FROM SDetails WHERE Color = 'Blue';
-- only rows where Color is Blue
SELECT * FROM SDetails ORDER BY Rollno ASC;
-- rows sorted by Rollno, smallest first

SELECT can also do quick calculations on numeric columns:

SELECT EmployeeID, FirstName, Salary + 1000
FROM Employee; -- new salary after a raise

UPDATE — Modifying Data

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 Class X | IT (402) | Unit 3: RDBMS — Classwork Notes

UPDATE table_name
SET column_name = value
WHERE condition;
UPDATE SDetails SET Location = 'Bhubaneswar'
WHERE Rollno = 14;

DELETE — Removing Records

DELETE FROM table_name WHERE condition;

5. Forms & Reports

Forms Reports
A user-friendly screen/interface to view, enter and change A formatted, summarised view of data — meant for
data in a table (or query). reading/printing, not editing.
In simple words: A Form is like the admission form you fill to ENTER your details into school records. A Report is like your final mark-
sheet — a clean, read-only SUMMARY of that data.
Both Forms and Reports can be created in two ways: using a Wizard (step-by-step guided screens) or in Design View (manual layout).

Quick Revision — One-Line Recall

● DBMS = software to create & manage a database; RDBMS = DBMS using related tables.
● Table → Field/Column/Attribute (property) → Row/Record/Tuple (one entry) → Value (actual data).
● Primary Key = unique row identifier; Foreign Key = PK of one table copied into another to link them.
● Relationships: One-to-One, One-to-Many, Many-to-Many.
● DDL defines structure (CREATE); DML handles data (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE).
● Forms = data entry screen; Reports = summarised, printable output.

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