What is indexing in the context of relational databases?
- A data structure that enhances sorting and searching operations
- A mechanism to enforce data integrity
- A technique to encrypt sensitive data
- An approach to optimize database backup processes
Indexing in relational databases refers to the creation of a data structure that enhances sorting and searching operations. It accelerates query retrieval by providing a quick lookup mechanism, especially for large datasets, and is crucial for optimizing database performance.
What is data partitioning in the context of storage optimization?
- Backing up data regularly
- Dividing data into smaller subsets based on certain criteria
- Encrypting data for security purposes
- Merging multiple datasets into a single database
Data partitioning involves dividing large datasets into smaller, more manageable subsets based on specific criteria such as date ranges, geographic regions, or other relevant factors. This helps in optimizing storage by distributing data across different storage devices or servers efficiently.
A manufacturing company wants to calculate the average production output per factory location. Which data modeling technique would you recommend for this scenario?
- Entity-Relationship Diagram
- Fact and Dimension Tables
- Snowflake Schema
- Star Schema
To calculate the average production output per factory location, the recommended data modeling technique is to use Fact and Dimension Tables. This approach involves creating a fact table containing production data and dimension tables providing details about factory locations, enabling efficient analysis.
What are clustering techniques used for in relational schema design?
- Creating composite keys
- Grouping related tables together on disk
- Implementing referential integrity
- Reducing data redundancy
Clustering techniques in relational schema design involve grouping related tables together on disk. This can enhance query performance by minimizing disk I/O when retrieving data from interconnected tables in a query.
A _______ constraint is used to ensure that a column value meets specific criteria.
- Check
- Foreign
- Primary
- Unique
Detailed A check constraint is used to ensure that a column value meets specific criteria or conditions. This helps in maintaining data accuracy and consistency by defining rules that must be satisfied for data in a column.