Tietokantatauluun

Tietokantatauluun, often translated as "database table" in English, is a fundamental concept in relational database management systems. It represents a collection of related data organized into rows and columns. Each row in a table is known as a record or tuple, and it contains information about a single entity. Each column, also called a field or attribute, represents a specific characteristic or property of the entities stored in the table.

For example, in a customer database, a "Customers" table might have columns like CustomerID, FirstName, LastName, Email, and Address. Each row would represent a unique customer, with the columns holding their respective details. The structure of a table is defined by its schema, which specifies the names of the columns, their data types (e.g., text, integer, date), and any constraints that apply, such as primary keys that uniquely identify each row or foreign keys that link to other tables.

Data is typically manipulated within tables using structured query language (SQL). Common operations include inserting new records, updating existing ones, deleting obsolete data, and retrieving specific information through queries. The relational model, which underpins most modern databases, relies heavily on the concept of tables and the relationships between them to ensure data integrity and efficient management. Understanding database tables is crucial for anyone working with databases, from developers to data analysts.