Databases basics

A database stores organised, related information so it can be efficiently retrieved and updated. Data is organised into tables, similar to a spreadsheet: each table has fields (columns, like "Name" or "Email") and records (rows, each representing one entry, like one customer). A key field (like a unique ID) helps identify each record uniquely, especially when tables need to be linked together.

Key terms

Table:

A structured collection of related data, organised in rows and columns.

Field:

A single column in a table representing one type of data.

Record:

A single row in a table, representing one complete entry.

Questions

1. 1. A database stores:

   • Organised, related information
   • Only images
   • Nothing useful
   • Only passwords

2. 2. A table organises data into:

   • Rows and columns
   • A single list with no structure
   • Only images
   • Sound files only

3. 3. A field is:

   • A single column representing one type of data
   • An entire table
   • A whole database
   • A type of password

4. 4. A record is:

   • A single row representing one complete entry
   • An entire table
   • A single field only
   • A type of software

5. 5. In a "Students" table, StudentID, FirstName and YearLevel would each be a:

   • Field
   • Record
   • Database
   • Password

6. 6. One row representing one specific student is called a:

   • Record
   • Field
   • Table name
   • Database name

7. 7. A key field is used to:

   • Uniquely identify each record
   • Delete all records
   • Store images only
   • Slow down the database

8. 8. Why is a unique key field (like StudentID) useful, rather than relying on names alone?

   • Two people could share the same name, but IDs are guaranteed unique
   • Names are always unique with no exceptions
   • Key fields have no real purpose
   • IDs are less reliable than names

9. 9. A "Products" table in a shop's database would likely include a field for:

   • Product price
   • A random unrelated topic
   • Student year level
   • A type of malware

10. 10. If a school has 500 students, its Students table would have approximately how many records?

    • 500
    • 5
    • 50
    • 5,000

11. 11. A database allows information to be:

    • Efficiently retrieved and updated
    • Never changed once entered
    • Only viewed, never searched
    • Randomly scrambled

12. 12. Searching a database for "all students in Year 9" would filter based on the:

    • YearLevel field
    • StudentID field only
    • The entire database randomly
    • No specific field

13. 13. A relational database can link multiple tables together using:

    • Shared key fields
    • Random guessing
    • Colour coding only
    • No connection method at all

14. 14. Compared to a simple paper list, a digital database's main advantage is:

    • Being able to quickly search, sort and update large amounts of data
    • Being slower to search through
    • Having no way to organise information
    • Only working for very small amounts of data

15. 15. A library database linking a "Books" table and a "Borrowers" table would likely use a shared field like:

    • A BorrowerID to connect which borrower has which book
    • The book's cover colour
    • No connection is needed between tables
    • The library's opening hours

16. 16. Why might splitting information into multiple related tables (rather than one giant table) be good database design?

    • It reduces repeated data and makes updates more efficient and consistent
    • One giant table is always more efficient
    • Splitting tables always causes data loss
    • Database design has no impact on efficiency

17. 17. A database query like "find all orders over $100 from the last month" relies on the database's ability to:

    • Filter and search records based on multiple conditions
    • Only display every record with no filtering
    • Delete unrelated records automatically
    • Only work with one condition at a time, ever

18. 18. Why is data validation (checking that entered data is in the correct format) important in database design?

    • It helps prevent errors and inconsistent or unusable data from being stored
    • Validation always makes databases slower with no benefit
    • Databases never need any data checks
    • Validation removes the need for fields entirely

19. 19. A hospital database storing patient records would need strong security measures mainly because:

    • The data is highly sensitive and its misuse could seriously harm patients' privacy
    • Hospital databases contain no sensitive information
    • Security is irrelevant for medical data
    • Patient data is always public information

20. 20. Why might duplicate records (the same customer entered twice with slightly different details) cause problems in a database?

    • It can lead to inconsistent, unreliable information and wasted storage
    • Duplicates always improve database accuracy
    • Duplicate records have no negative effects
    • Databases automatically prevent all duplicates with no design effort

21. 21. A database backup is important mainly because it:

    • Provides a way to recover data if the original is lost, corrupted or deleted
    • Makes the original database permanently unusable
    • Has no practical benefit for real organisations
    • Is only relevant for very small databases