ITF+ Database Fundamentals Flashcards
6 cards from real COMPTIA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 ITF+ Database Fundamentals flashcards as text
In a relational database table for employees, what is the primary purpose of a 'EmployeeID' column that is designated as a primary key?
Answer: To uniquely identify each employee record in the table.
A primary key is a column (or a set of columns) in a table whose main purpose is to uniquely identify each record in that table. [27, 7] An 'EmployeeID' is a perfect candidate for a primary key because each employee will have a unique ID, ensuring no two records are identical and allowing for reliable data retrieval and relationships.
A database contains a 'Products' table. All the information about a single product—its name, price, and stock quantity—is stored together. What is this complete set of information for one product called?
Answer: A record
A record, also known as a row, represents a single, complete entry in a table. [4, 28] It is a horizontal grouping of all the related data for one item. In this case, the name, price, and stock quantity for one specific product constitute a single record. [25]
A developer needs to write a SQL statement to retrieve the names and email addresses of all customers from a 'Customers' table. Which of the following commands should be used to begin this query?
Answer: SELECT
The `SELECT` command is the fundamental SQL statement used to retrieve, or read, data from a database. [14, 24] `INSERT` is used to create new records, `UPDATE` modifies existing records, and `CREATE` is used to create new database objects like tables, not retrieve data from them. These operations are part of the CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) model. [15]
A small business owner is currently storing all customer and order information in a single spreadsheet. An IT consultant recommends moving to a relational database to reduce data redundancy and improve integrity. What is the primary advantage of a relational database over this flat file approach?
Answer: It uses multiple, linked tables to separate different types of data, such as customers and orders.
The core principle of a relational database is organizing data into multiple tables that are related to each other. [3, 30] For example, one table for customer information and another for order information. This is a significant advantage over a flat file (like a spreadsheet) where all data is in one place, often leading to repetition and inconsistencies. [19]
A database has a 'Students' table with a primary key 'StudentID' and an 'Enrollments' table to track which courses students are taking. To link an enrollment record to a specific student, what should be added to the 'Enrollments' table?
Answer: A foreign key that references the 'StudentID' from the 'Students' table
A foreign key is a column in one table that refers to the primary key of another table. [7, 1] By placing the 'StudentID' in the 'Enrollments' table as a foreign key, a direct link is created between a specific student and their enrollment records, enforcing referential integrity. [13]
Which of the following BEST describes a database schema?
Answer: The blueprint that defines the database's structure, including its tables, fields, and relationships.
A database schema is the logical blueprint or framework of a database. [8, 12] It outlines the tables, the fields within those tables, the data types for each field, and the relationships between the tables, but does not contain the actual data itself. [11, 16]