Glossary

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Glossary
data definition language (DDL)(SQL) Statements to create and modify tables and other database objects.sql/ddldml.php
data dictionary(SQL) System tables that hold information about the structure of the database.sql/ddldml.php
data integrity(TM) In part, the value entered in each field of a table is consistent with its attribute domain.domains.php
data manipulation language (DML)(SQL) Statements to work with data in a table.sql/ddldml.php
data types(SQL) As in programming languages, the data type that an attribute can hold in a table. This is not the same as the domain of an attribute.sql/ddldml.php
DELETE(SQL) Statement to remove some or all rows from a table.sql/ddldml.php
denormalization(RM) Intentionally "breaking the rules" of normal forms.normalize.php
derived attribute(UML) An attribute that can be computed from data stored elsewhere in the database.manymany.php
descriptive attribute(UML) An attribute that provides real-world information, relevant to the enterprise, about the class that we are modeling.class.php
design pattern(UML) Modeling situations that you will encounter frequently in database design.manymany.php
discriminator attribute(RM,TM) An attribute that allows us to discriminate between multiple pairings of the same two individuals from each side of a many-to-many association.loan.php
disjoint specialization(UML) Each member of a superclass may be a member of no more than one subclasssubclass.php
DISTINCT(SQL) Optional clause of the SELECT statement. Use when the SELECT attributes do not form a super key of the FROM clause.sql/multijoin.php
domain(RM) The set of legal values that may be assigned to an attribute.class.php
domain, enumeratedSee enumerated domain.enum.php
DROP CONSTRAINT(SQL) Optional clause of the ALTER TABLE statement.sql/ddldml.php
DROP TABLE(SQL) Statement to delete a table and all of its contents.sql/ddldml.php
entity(ER) See class.class.php
entity-relationship (ER) modelAn enterprise modeling tool used in database design.models.html
enumerated domain(RM) A domain that may be specified by a well-defined, reasonably-sized set of constant values.enum.php
exclusive specialization(UML) See disjoint specialization.subclass.php
external key(UML,RM) A surrogate or substitute key that has been defined by an external organization. May be treated as a descriptive attribute in your model.keys.php
FD, partialSee partial FD.subkeys.php
FD, transitiveSee transitive FD.subkeys.php
foreign key (FK)(RM,TM) A set of attributes that is copied from the PK of a parent table into the scheme of a child table.association.php
functional dependency (FD)(RM) Formal definition of the super key property.subkeys.php
generalization(UML) (noun) A superclass. (verb) The process of designing superclasses from "bottom up."subclass.php
grant(SQL) Statement to assign privileges to a user.sql/ddldml.php
HAVING(SQL) Optional clause that selects aggregated group information in a SELECT statement.sql/functions.php

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