What is a relational database?

-A relational database matches data by using common characteristics found within the data set. The resulting groups of data are organized and are much easier ...A relational database matches data by using common characteristics found within the data set. The resulting groups of data are organized and are much easier ...Data/information that can be ( or is ) related to more data in a database and all that data is stored in tables (think Excel Spreadsheets with Rows and Columns for a visual example).



Simple example is a school's database:

There are Teachers, Students, and Courses. A relational database lets you provide many details on each, and then relate that information with each other. So if the school uses a relational database they could now see what students have what teachers and for what courses and much more.



Relational Databases are the most widely used type of database in the world. They can also keep you from typing in redundant data over and over (depends on what you're doing of course) because you can relate information with other areas of your database.



This style of database was developed by a guy at IBM in the 70's.