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Area 3: Database Design and Development

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do you model the data for a real problem as linked tables before building a database?

Analysing a database problem and designing the data model: entity-relationship diagrams, entities and attributes, relationships and cardinality, the data dictionary, and primary, foreign and compound keys.
An SQA Higher Computing Science answer on database analysis and design, covering entity-relationship diagrams, entities and attributes, relationships and cardinality, the data dictionary, and primary, foreign and compound keys.
12 min answer →

How does a database keep its linked data consistent and reject bad input?

Referential integrity and entity integrity between linked tables, and validation of data entered into a database (presence, restricted choice and field length checks).
An SQA Higher Computing Science answer on database integrity and validation, covering entity integrity, referential integrity between linked tables, and validation checks such as presence, restricted choice and field length.
11 min answer →

How do you add, change and remove records in a relational database, and what are the consequences?

Changing the data in a relational database with SQL INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE on prepopulated linked tables, and the implications of these operations.
An SQA Higher Computing Science answer on changing data in a relational database, covering the SQL INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE operations on prepopulated linked tables and the implications of each.
11 min answer →

How do you ask a relational database questions across linked tables using SQL?

Querying a relational database with SQL SELECT, including WHERE, joining multiple tables, ORDER BY, aliases, wildcards, computed values, aggregate functions and GROUP BY.
An SQA Higher Computing Science answer on querying a relational database with SQL, covering SELECT with WHERE, joining multiple tables, ORDER BY, aliases, wildcards, computed values, aggregate functions and GROUP BY.
13 min answer →