What is a superclass in the context of database modeling?

  • A high-level table that shares common attributes with one or more lower-level tables
  • A table containing only primary keys
  • A table with no relationships
  • A table with the maximum number of records
In database modeling, a superclass is a high-level table that shares common attributes with one or more lower-level tables, known as subclasses. It allows for the representation of generalization and specialization relationships in a database.

Type 2 Slowly Changing Dimensions (SCD) maintains historical data by adding _______ columns to the dimension table.

  • historical
  • timestamp
  • tracking
  • versioning
Type 2 SCD maintains historical data by adding historical columns to the dimension table. This includes fields like start date, end date, or version number to track changes over time and preserve historical information about the dimension's attributes.

Data partitioning is often used to improve _______ in distributed systems.

  • Performance
  • Reliability
  • Scalability
  • Security
Data partitioning is employed to enhance performance in distributed systems. It involves dividing large datasets into smaller, more manageable partitions, distributed across multiple nodes. This aids in parallel processing and efficient utilization of resources, ultimately boosting system performance.

A _______ entity is one whose existence is dependent on another entity.

  • Associative
  • Recursive
  • Strong
  • Weak
In data modeling, a Weak entity is one whose existence is dependent on another entity, usually identified by the presence of a partial key. It cannot exist or be uniquely identified without being related to a strong entity.

What is a column-family store primarily designed for?

  • Efficiently storing and retrieving sparse data
  • Managing transactions and ACID properties
  • Storing data in a flat file structure
  • Storing data in rows and columns
A column-family store is primarily designed for efficiently storing and retrieving sparse data. Unlike traditional relational databases, column-family stores are optimized for handling large amounts of data with varying attributes, making them suitable for scenarios like time-series data and analytics where sparse data is common.

Scenario: A large e-commerce platform is experiencing rapid growth in its customer base. As a database administrator, how would you utilize partitioning to handle the increasing data volume?

  • No need for partitioning in this scenario
  • Partitioning based on customer demographics
  • Partitioning based on date ranges
  • Partitioning based on product categories
In this scenario, partitioning based on date ranges is a suitable strategy. It allows for the efficient management of historical data, making it easier to archive or delete older records while ensuring quick access to recent data. This helps in optimizing performance and maintenance in a rapidly growing database.

What is the role of compression techniques in storage optimization?

  • Decrease data accessibility
  • Improve data integrity
  • Increase data redundancy
  • Reduce storage space requirements
Compression techniques play a crucial role in storage optimization by reducing the amount of storage space required to store data. By compressing data, redundant or repetitive information is eliminated or replaced with shorter representations, resulting in significant savings in storage resources while maintaining data integrity and accessibility.

How do you represent disjoint and overlapping constraints in an ERD with superclasses and subclasses?

  • Employing a triangle for disjoint and a hexagon for overlapping
  • Representing both with a diamond shape
  • Using a circle for disjoint and an oval for overlapping
  • Utilizing a square for disjoint and a rectangle for overlapping
Disjoint constraints in an ERD with superclasses and subclasses are represented by a square, while overlapping constraints are depicted by a circle. A diamond shape is commonly used to denote the generalization relationship between superclass and subclasses.

How does collaboration improve the quality of data models?

  • By incorporating diverse perspectives and expertise
  • By limiting stakeholder input
  • By minimizing communication
  • By reducing collaboration
Collaboration improves data model quality by incorporating diverse perspectives and expertise. Involving various stakeholders ensures that different viewpoints are considered, leading to a more comprehensive and accurate representation of the organization's data requirements.

Which technique is commonly used for storage optimization in databases?

  • Denormalization
  • Indexing
  • Partitioning
  • Replication
Indexing is a common technique used for storage optimization in databases. Indexes provide a way to efficiently retrieve data from a database table based on the values in certain columns. By creating indexes on frequently queried columns, database systems can quickly locate the rows that match a particular search criteria, improving query performance and overall system efficiency.