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Introduction to Databases

8 Topics • 22 Lessons

Database concepts and design - the relational model, schema design, indexes, transactions, and SQL vs NoSQL. A conceptual companion to the SQL and Postgres courses.

Course Contents

Start Here

1 lesson

Welcome & How to Use This Course

What a Database Is and Why

3 lessons

Databases vs. Files and Spreadsheets

What a Database Gives You

Check Yourself

The Relational Model

3 lessons

Tables, Rows, and Columns

Relationships and Schemas

Check Yourself

Schema Design and Normalization

3 lessons

Designing Tables and Normalizing

Denormalization and a Worked Schema

Check Yourself

Indexes & Performance

3 lessons

What an Index Is and Why It Speeds Up Reads

The Cost of Indexes and How to Choose Them

Check Yourself: Indexes & Performance

Transactions & ACID

3 lessons

What a Transaction Is: All-or-Nothing

ACID and Concurrency Explained

Check Yourself: Transactions & ACID

SQL vs NoSQL

3 lessons

Relational (SQL) Databases

The NoSQL Families

Check Yourself

Running a Database Well

3 lessons

Connecting Apps and Schema Migrations

Backups, Security, and Scaling

Check Yourself