Concise Guide to Databases Undergraduate Topics in Computer Science

Modern businesses depend on data for their very survival, creating a need for sophisticated databases and database technologies to help store, organise and transport their valuable data. This easy-to-read textbook/reference presents a comprehensive introduction to databases, opening with a concise history of databases and of data as an organisational asset. As relational database management systems are no longer the only database solution, the book takes a wider view of database technology, encompassing big data, NoSQL, object and object-relational, and in-memory databases. The text also examines the issues of scalability, availability, performance and security encountered when building and running a database in the real world. Topics and features: Presents review and discussion questions at the end of each chapter, in addition to skill-building, hands-on exercises Introduces the fundamental concepts and technologies in database systems, placing these in an historic context Describes the challenges faced by database professionals Reviews the use of a variety of database types in business environments Discusses areas for further research within this fast-moving domain Suggests a str