Supportsoft Glossary

How Relational Databases Store Structured Information

A relational database is a type of database that uses tables, rows and columns to store and organise data in a structured manner. Each table represents an entity (e.g., a user, an order or a product) and the relationships between those entities create a logical relationship and accuracy between the data. The relationships are referred to as keys. A primary key uniquely identifies the record, while foreign keys create the connections between tables.

Unlike a file-based system, which is only able to hold one type of data, relational databases support structured querying using SQL ("Structured Query Language"). Due to the consistent structure of the data, the transaction process is handled efficiently, ensuring the integrity of the record and preventing the duplication of records. Relational databases are widely used in areas such as financial systems, enterprise applications and eCommerce.

Some of the main features of relational databases include ACID compliance that ensures accurate transaction processing even during a system failure and indexing of the database, which improves performance when using large datasets or large numbers of transactions. The major types of relational databases include MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle and SQL Server and are integral to the structure of modern IT systems because they allow users to balance reliability, scalability and data consistency. As a result of the structured way in which they organise data, relational databases can easily support today's complex reporting, analysis and operating workflows across many industries.