Databasevenlig

Databasevenlig is a Danish term used in software development to describe data formats, schemas, APIs, and coding practices that map cleanly to a database design and support efficient storage, querying, and maintenance. The concept applies to both relational and non-relational databases, with an emphasis on predictability and integrity.

For relational databases, database-friendly design typically implies normalization to reduce redundancy, clear primary and foreign keys, well-defined data types, and constraints such as NOT NULL, UNIQUE, and CHECK. Data should be structured to support common queries, with appropriate indexes and careful handling of migrations to minimize downtime. Naming consistency and versioned schemas help maintainability and collaboration across teams.

For document stores or other non-relational databases, database-friendly practices include using consistent document schemas within a collection, employing identifiers to reference related data, and avoiding unbounded or deeply nested structures that hinder indexing and querying. Keeping fields relatively flat and indexing the most frequently queried attributes can improve performance, while clear conventions for field names aid interoperability with other systems.

Common pitfalls include storing large binary blobs without a defined strategy, frequent or unplanned schema changes without proper migrations, and relying on application logic to enforce data integrity instead of database constraints or validation layers.

The benefits of database-friendly design include improved query performance, stronger data integrity, easier maintenance, and smoother migration between storage backends. The term is descriptive and guidance-oriented, used in discussions about API design, data interchange formats, and data modeling.