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Database Design

Learn to design databases in SQL.

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4 Hours13 Videos52 Exercises38,953 Learners4150 XPData Engineer TrackSQL for Database Administrators TrackSQL Server Developer TrackSQL Server for Database Administrators Track

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Course Description

A good database design is crucial for a high-performance application. Just like you wouldn't start building a house without the benefit of a blueprint, you need to think about how your data will be stored beforehand. Taking the time to design a database saves time and frustration later on, and a well-designed database ensures ease of access and retrieval of information. While choosing a design, a lot of considerations have to be accounted for. In this course, you'll learn how to process, store, and organize data in an efficient way. You'll see how to structure data through normalization and present your data with views. Finally, you'll learn how to manage your database and all of this will be done on a variety of datasets from book sales, car rentals, to music reviews.
  1. 1

    Processing, Storing, and Organizing Data

    Free

    Start your journey into database design by learning about the two approaches to data processing, OLTP and OLAP. In this first chapter, you'll also get familiar with the different forms data can be stored in and learn the basics of data modeling.

    Play Chapter Now
    OLTP and OLAP
    50 xp
    OLAP vs. OLTP
    100 xp
    Which is better?
    50 xp
    Storing data
    50 xp
    Name that data type!
    100 xp
    Ordering ETL Tasks
    100 xp
    Recommend a storage solution
    50 xp
    Database design
    50 xp
    Classifying data models
    100 xp
    Deciding fact and dimension tables
    100 xp
    Querying the dimensional model
    100 xp
  2. 2

    Database Schemas and Normalization

    In this chapter, you will take your data modeling skills to the next level. You'll learn to implement star and snowflake schemas, recognize the importance of normalization and see how to normalize databases to different extents.

    Play Chapter Now
    Star and snowflake schema
    50 xp
    Running from star to snowflake
    50 xp
    Adding foreign keys
    100 xp
    Extending the book dimension
    100 xp
    Normalized and denormalized databases
    50 xp
    Querying the star schema
    100 xp
    Querying the snowflake schema
    100 xp
    Updating countries
    100 xp
    Extending the snowflake schema
    100 xp
    Normal forms
    50 xp
    Converting to 1NF
    100 xp
    Converting to 2NF
    100 xp
    Converting to 3NF
    100 xp
  3. 3

    Database Views

    Get ready to work with views! In this chapter, you will learn how to create and query views. On top of that, you'll master more advanced capabilities to manage them and end by identifying the difference between materialized and non-materialized views.

    Play Chapter Now
    Database views
    50 xp
    Tables vs. views
    100 xp
    Viewing views
    100 xp
    Creating and querying a view
    100 xp
    Managing views
    50 xp
    Creating a view from other views
    100 xp
    Granting and revoking access
    100 xp
    Updatable views
    50 xp
    Redefining a view
    100 xp
    Materialized views
    50 xp
    Materialized versus non-materialized
    100 xp
    Creating and refreshing a materialized view
    100 xp
    Managing materialized views
    50 xp
  4. 4

    Database Management

    This final chapter ends with some database management-related topics. You will learn how to grant database access based on user roles, how to partition tables into smaller pieces, what to keep in mind when integrating data, and which DBMS fits your business needs best.

    Play Chapter Now
    Database roles and access control
    50 xp
    Create a role
    100 xp
    GRANT privileges and ALTER attributes
    100 xp
    Add a user role to a group role
    100 xp
    Table partitioning
    50 xp
    Reasons to partition
    50 xp
    Partitioning and normalization
    100 xp
    Creating vertical partitions
    100 xp
    Creating horizontal partitions
    100 xp
    Data integration
    50 xp
    Data integration do's and dont's
    100 xp
    Analyzing a data integration plan
    50 xp
    Picking a Database Management System (DBMS)
    50 xp
    SQL versus NoSQL
    50 xp
    Choosing the right DBMS
    100 xp

In the following tracks

Data EngineerSQL for Database AdministratorsSQL Server DeveloperSQL Server for Database Administrators

Datasets

Chicago 311 Service RequestsPitchfork Reviews

Collaborators

vincentvankrunkelsven
Vincent Vankrunkelsven
ruannevdwalt
Ruanne Van Der Walt
rv22e
Hervé Eerebout
hadrien-d4e73b49-bc29-46b7-a485-2f598f38e3b9
Hadrien Lacroix
davidventuri
David Venturi
sara-billen
Sara Billen
jeroenhermans
Jeroen Hermans
besttim
Tim Sangster

Prerequisites

Introduction to Relational Databases in SQL
Lis Sulmont Headshot

Lis Sulmont

Content Program Manager at Duolingo

Lis holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from McGill University with a focus on computer science education research and applied machine learning. She's passionate about teaching all things related to data and improving the accessibility of these topics.
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