Overview and Aims
This unit develops learners’ knowledge and skills in advanced database systems and how they are managed within a business or corporate environment. Learners will make informed choices between vendor and open source platforms and design and develop a relational DBMS using an open source platform.
Aims:
- Develop understanding of relational database models, normalisation, and modelling languages.
- Enable learners to apply data analysis and database design techniques including UML notation.
- Build practical skills in developing, securing, and testing a functional database to meet client requirements.
Indicative Content (Summary)
- DBMS types: MySQL, Oracle; data models: Entity-Relationship, relational, hierarchical, object-oriented.
- Relational data structures: relations, attributes, domain, tuple, cardinality; referential integrity.
- Normalisation: 1NF, 2NF, 3NF, Boyce Codd Normal Form (BCNF).
- Modelling languages: DDL, DML, relational query languages; transaction and concurrency in DBMS.
- UML tools (Edraw, Dia), DTD and XML Schema, CSS with XML.
- Building physical databases: SELECT queries, multi-table queries, sorting, filtering, built-in functions.
- Security: field-level access control, Web Application Firewall (WAF), encrypted backups.
- Testing: referential integrity, functionality, security, and stability testing.
Outcomes
Learners will be able to:
- Understand different types of database management systems (open source vs vendor-specific).
- Be able to apply data analysis and database design techniques using UML notation.
- Be able to develop a secure and functional database to meet client and system requirements.
Lessons:
