Software & Apps Apps 40 40 people found this article helpful 5 Things Beginners Need to Know About Databases Tips to make working with databases easier by Mike Chapple Writer Former Lifewire writer Mike Chapple is an IT professional with more than 10 years' experience cybersecurity and extensive knowledge of SQL and database management. our editorial process Twitter Mike Chapple Updated on July 17, 2020 Apps Best Apps Payment Services Tweet Share Email If you're just getting started with databases, this rundown of the top things you need to know will help you move forward. These facts are guaranteed to make it easier to work with databases and increase productivity. Towfiqu Photography / Getty Images 01 of 05 SQL Forms the Core of Relational Databases The Structured Query Language forms the core of all relational databases. It provides a uniform interface to Oracle, SQL Server, Microsoft Access, and other relational databases, and is a "must learn" for all aspiring database users. Take an introductory SQL course before you even attempt to learn any specific database software. The time investment will help you build a proper foundation and get started on the correct foot in the world of databases. W3Schools.com is a great starting place for beginners interested in SQL. 02 of 05 Selecting Primary Keys Is an Important Decision The selection of a primary key is one of the most critical decisions you make in the design of a new database. The most important constraint is that you must ensure that the selected key is unique. If it’s possible that two records (past, present, or future) might share the same value for an attribute, it’s a poor choice for a primary key. When evaluating this constraint, you should think creatively. You also need to avoid sensitive values that raise privacy concerns, such as Social Security numbers. 03 of 05 NULL Is Not Zero or the Empty String NULL is a special value in the world of databases, but it's something that often confuses beginners. When you see a NULL value, interpret it as "unknown." If a quantity is NULL, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's zero. Similarly, if a text field holds a NULL value, it doesn't mean that there isn't an appropriate value—it's simply unknown. For example, consider a database containing information about children who attend a particular school. If the person entering the record doesn't know a student's age, a NULL value is used to indicate the "unknown" placeholder. The student certainly has an age—it's just not present in the database. 04 of 05 Converting Spreadsheets to Databases Saves Time If you already have tons of data stored in Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet format, you can save yourself mountains of time by converting those spreadsheets into database tables. 05 of 05 All Database Platforms Are NOT Created Equal There are many different databases out there, all of which offer a variety of unique features at different price points. Some are full-featured enterprise databases designed to host huge data warehouses serving multinational enterprises. Others are desktop databases better suited to tracking inventory for a small store with one or two users. Your business requirements will dictate the appropriate database platform for your needs. See this list of the Best Free Online Database Creators. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up. Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit