This is the 18th day of my participation in Gwen Challenge

Database is the core element of application and computer, responsible for storing all the important data needed to run software applications. There is always one or more databases running silently to keep the application running properly. We can regard the database as an information warehouse, which stores a large amount of relevant information in a structured way, and classifies it reasonably for easy searching and use.

Therefore, database design becomes an important part of software development. It is very important for developers to design an efficient database. So why is database design important, and what is “good”? This article will do to introduce.

1. Why is database design important?

Take the online shopping site where we order shirts. Today, the process of ordering a shirt from a website seems simple, but involves a lot of information exchange. For example, the first time you browse the web, the system will show you a list of products, all available products, corresponding prices, available sizes, colors and other relevant information. The site retrieves the data from its database, and when the user selects the item they want and proceeds with the purchase, the site asks for personal details, shipping address, payment details and confirms the order. New data currently generated during this process, such as user details, order details, purchases, and payments, are added and updated in the same database.

Database design is important because it is critical to building scalable software applications that can run under high workloads. First of all, choosing database software is key. There are hundreds of database software available to build applications, and you can choose from some of the best free database software, and then it’s time to design the database that fits your requirements. Here are 10 optimal database design practices.

10 best practices for database design

2.1 Take into account the views of all

To design a good database, the perspectives of all stakeholders must be considered. Before building the database, gather information about their expectations and proficiency with the database. This gives you an idea of the level of technology the database should be using and whether you want to train users on the functionality of the database.

2.2 Select a Database type that meets requirements

There are many types of database, and choosing the right type is the key of database design. We can classify databases in two ways. One is based on the query language that the database uses to define and manipulate data. Databases that use SQL are the most common type of structured data. However, NoSQL databases are better suited for machine learning, network analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) because of their scalability, flexibility, and speed.

The second classification is based on data models. There are four types of database: relational database, hierarchical database, network database, and object-oriented database.

Researching the different types of databases and making choices tailored to application requirements is a necessary initial step.

2.3 Define and label tables and columns in a consistent manner

When defining data items and marking tables and columns, it is important to follow the consistency principle to help us understand the data better. One of the best practices for naming tables and columns is to use simple names to define the data they contain. For example, simply mark the column containing the user name as “CustomerName” (” User name “).

You should avoid plural names (such as CustomerNames), abbreviations (such as CN), and no Spaces in names (such as CustomerName). If you adhere to these rules, it will be easier for future users to use the database.

2.4 Normalization is the key

Database normalization refers to the organization of all information in the database to avoid data duplication and redundancy. In simple terms, normalization is about breaking up data into several smaller related tables, rather than storing it all in one big table.

Normalizing data is a good database design practice and helps increase efficiency. Make sure you don’t overnormalize, however, as you can scatter your data across too many small tables, causing confusion.

2.5 Documentation of database design is very important

In fact, documentation is not popular because it is so annoying. But remember that documentation is crucial to good database design, keeping track of all the little details. The database design should be accompanied by instructions, ER diagrams, stored procedures, and all other relevant information. Documentation should also be informative enough for programmers and end users to understand and use.

2.6 Privacy is a primary concern

Many times, the information stored in the database is encrypted information, and privacy becomes a concern. For maximum security, we should encrypt passwords, use authentication to restrict access to the database, and use a different server to host the database than the one where the application resides. This will ensure that your data is protected from attacks and privacy violations.

2.7 Consider long-term needs

A good database design should be scalable, that is, able to sustain high workloads and keep applications running even as usage increases. For organizations whose workloads may vary, it is important to keep this in mind when designing databases. For example, if an e-commerce site expects a rapid increase in visitors within a month as sales increase, this should be taken into account when designing the database so that it can respond to the rapid increase in visitors and still operate under high workloads.

2.8 Code and use of stored programs

One of the most common mistakes in database design is not using a stored program. A pre-stored program is a pre-stored code string that is readily available when manipulating data. For example, if an SQL query is a commonly used operation instruction, it makes life easier to write it into a memory program in advance rather than re-write it at the time it is used. Once you have the stored program, you can execute and load the SQL query in one step as needed.

Writing a lot of stored programs is a demanding task, but if you take the time to do it and document it, using the database is much easier for the end user.

2.9 Invest time in database modeling and design

One of the professional skills of good database design is to invest time and effort in database modeling and design. A common mistake developers make is to ignore this step to save time and focus on other, more important aspects of software development. However, database design is critical to ensuring application functionality. If you’re trying to save time and don’t think about your design carefully, you’ll end up spending more time maintaining your database or even redesigning it in the future.

2.10 Test design

Testing is also a critical step in database design, and is often overlooked or even skipped entirely in order to catch up with DDL. Take some time to thoroughly test the database design before releasing the project to ensure that it meets all planned requirements and works properly.

3, conclusion

For data-centric projects, database design is extremely important and should be taken seriously during development. The database design practices mentioned in this article, such as proper planning for long-term requirements, choosing the right database types, using consistent names and tags, data normalization, database design documentation, and advance testing, are all key considerations when designing a good database.

Original text: medium.com/quick-code/…