Introduction to databases

Learning Results

The course introduces the area of database systems. It discusses and motivates their application in real life scenarios. At the gist of the course, we will tackle modeling issues and the translation of models that are based on business requirements into relational tables that can be deployed on Relational Data Management Systems (DBMS). We will introduce the basics of querying databases and, in particular we will see the syntax and composition of SQL queries. The course will include a design and implementation of a real database system and in this way it will lead to the course “Advanced Databases”.

Upon successful completion of the course, student will have obtained the following:

• Knowledge of the basic tools and DBMSs,
• Collection and analysis of basic business rules and requirements for designing a database,
• Knowledge of the basic techniques to design of a database in a DBMS,
• Knowledge of the syntax and use of the SQL language for designing and querying a database,
• Knowledge of basic notions related to transactions, database administration and view management,
• Project work in groups with other collagues of theirs for the design, implementation and presentation of a case study using SQL within a DBMS.

Skills acquired

• Individual work
• Group work with the use of necessary technologies
• Project design, management and presentation

• Introduction to Datbases, Database Management Systems, Architecture of Database Management Systems.
• Data Structures for databases. Clasical database models (e.g. hierarchical, graph). Relational data model. Relational algebra. Relational calculus and Query by Example (QBE).
• Database modeling. Conceptual models. Entity Relationship (ER) model.
• Logical design of relational databases. Normalization. Functional Dependencies and normalization.
• Database languages. SQL language and the SQL3 standard.
• View definition and managemet. View updates.
• Database administration. Θέματα διαχείρισης και λειτουργίας βάσεων δεδομένων. Database Integrity, optimization, redesign, security, tuning etc.
• The role and responsibities of a Database Administrator (DBA).
• Transaction management.
• Files systems and database physical design. Introduction to the physical design and organization of a DBMS.

1. Hector Garcia–Molina, Jeffrey Ullman, Jennifer Widom, Database Systems: The Complete Book, 2008, ISBN: 978-0131873254, Pearson; 2nd edition.
2. Elmasri Ramez, Navathe Shamkant, Fundamentals of Database Systems, 2016, ISBN: 978-0133971118, Pearson; 7th edition.
3. Ramakrishnan Raghu, Gehrke Joahannes, Database Management Systems, 2012, ISBN: 978-0072465631, McGraw-Hill; 3rd edition.
4. Silberschatz A., Korth H.F., Sudarshan S., Database System Concepts, 2010, ISBN: 978-0073523323, McGraw-Hill; 6th edition.

Research papers and technical reports from projects, chapters from diploma theses, review papers and other publications in hot topics withing the area of databases and their techniques.