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32 Chapter 3: Database Fundamentals
Understanding database basics
Even though you do not need a thorough understanding of database management systems to
create ColdFusion applications, you must understand some basic concepts and techniques about
databases. The information in this chapter will get you started with ColdFusion.
What is a relational database?
A relational database is a structured collection of information that is related to a particular subject
or purpose, such as an inventory database or a human resources database. You use databases to
manage information. Information, such as product name, cost, and on-hand inventory, is stored
in a database. Within the database, you organize the data into storage containers called tables.
Tables are made up of columns and rows. Columns represent individual fields in a table. Rows
represent records of data in a table. You can think of database tables as grids, as in the following
example:
Each field in the table contains one piece of information. In an employee table, for example, one
column contains the employee name, another contains the employee phone number, and the
address, city, state, zip, and salary are all stored in their own columns. Each record represents one
set of related information. For example, an employee table might store information about one
employee per row. The number of rows in a table represents the total number of table records.
Field (column)
Record
(row)