Databases

The course provides the fundamental knowledge and skills related to relational databases and related systems for database management. The course also provides knowledge and skills featuring non-relational database systems (the so-called NoSQL systems), by also discussing the main differences with relational tools through examples and case studies. A theory part devoted to models, languages, design methodologies, security and transaction aspects of relational systems is provided. An additional theory part is included in the course to present models and languages of non-relational systems. The course is complemented by a laboratory part focused on the use of relational and non-relational database management systems.

The student will acquire the following knowledge and corresponding skills: design of the conceptual and relational schema of a database either starting from an informal description of a reference application domain or starting from an unstructured data set; verify the level of normalization of a relational schema and understand the concepts of functional dependency and normalization; understand and correctly execute complex SQL queries and define their execution plan in terms of relational algebra operations; understand, design and define the different types of indexes to optimize data access; realize active functionalities on a relational database by means of SQL procedures; know the main types of non-relational models; know the main differences between relational and non-relational models and systems; understand and execute queries on the specific non-relational database systems presented during the course.