Scenario: A company has employees and projects. An employee can work on multiple projects, and a project can have multiple employees working on it. Which type of relationship would you use to represent this scenario in an ERD?

  • Many-to-Many
  • Many-to-One
  • One-to-Many
  • One-to-One
In this scenario, a Many-to-Many relationship is appropriate. This allows each employee to work on multiple projects, and each project to have multiple employees associated with it. It involves a junction table to manage the relationship.

In an ERD, an _______ key is a key that consists of more than one attribute.

  • Composite
  • Foreign
  • Primary
  • Unique
In an ERD, a composite key is a key that consists of more than one attribute. It is used to uniquely identify an entity when a single attribute is not sufficient. Composite keys are common in situations where a combination of attributes is needed for uniqueness.

What is aggregation in the context of data modeling?

  • Breaking down a large dataset into smaller pieces
  • Combining multiple entities into a single entity
  • Creating relationships between entities
  • Summarizing and combining data at a higher level
Aggregation in data modeling involves summarizing and combining data at a higher level. It is used to provide insights into the overall trends and patterns within a dataset, often involving the use of aggregation functions like SUM, AVG, COUNT, etc., to analyze and present data in a more meaningful way.

What is the central table in a Star Schema?

  • Dimension Table
  • Fact Table
  • Lookup Table
  • Reference Table
In a Star Schema, the central table is the Fact Table. This table contains the core data of the schema and is usually surrounded by Dimension Tables that provide context and additional details for the data in the Fact Table. The Fact Table typically contains numerical measures or facts that business users want to analyze.

How does indexing improve query performance in a database?

  • Decreases the overall database size
  • Increases the complexity of queries
  • Reduces the number of records in a table
  • Speeds up data retrieval by providing a quick access path
Indexing improves query performance by creating a quick access path to the data. It reduces the number of records that need to be scanned, making data retrieval faster for specific queries.

What is a transitive dependency in the context of normalization?

  • Dependency between non-prime attributes
  • Dependency where a non-prime attribute determines a prime attribute
  • Dependency where a non-prime attribute determines another non-prime attribute
  • Dependency where a prime attribute determines another prime attribute
In normalization, a transitive dependency occurs when a non-prime attribute determines another non-prime attribute. It violates the principles of normalization, and resolving such dependencies is crucial for achieving higher normal forms.

How do NoSQL databases handle consistency in distributed systems compared to traditional relational databases?

  • Emphasizing centralized control
  • Relying on eventual consistency
  • Using ACID properties
  • Utilizing distributed transactions
NoSQL databases often rely on eventual consistency in distributed systems compared to traditional relational databases. Unlike traditional databases that emphasize strong consistency through distributed transactions and ACID properties, NoSQL databases prioritize low-latency operations and high availability, accepting temporary inconsistencies that will eventually be resolved.

One technique used in denormalization is the creation of _______ tables to store precomputed results.

  • Aggregate
  • Lookup
  • Metadata
  • Staging
In denormalization, the creation of Aggregate tables is a technique to store precomputed results. These tables contain summarized data, reducing the need for complex calculations during query execution and improving overall performance.

What is the purpose of Slowly Changing Dimensions (SCD) in data modeling?

  • To capture changes to dimension data over time
  • To design complex queries
  • To enforce data integrity constraints
  • To speed up data retrieval from databases
Slowly Changing Dimensions (SCD) in data modeling are used to capture changes to dimension data over time. They allow for the tracking of historical data and help maintain a history of changes to dimensional attributes, which is crucial for analysis and reporting purposes.

What does "Forward Engineering" refer to in the context of database design?

  • Creating a conceptual data model
  • Generating a database schema from a higher-level model
  • Modifying an existing database schema
  • Optimizing a database for performance
In database design, "Forward Engineering" involves generating a database schema from a higher-level model, such as a conceptual data model. This process moves from an abstract representation to a concrete implementation, helping in the actual creation of the database structure.