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Data Definition

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Encyclopedia of Database Systems

Synonyms

Schema definition

Definition

Data definition is a process that is part of the database design process. Once the requirements for a particular database application are collected, the next step is the data definition process, during which the constructs of a database schema for that application are created. Hence, data definition is the process of creating the schema constructs in the data model used by a particular database management system (DBMS). Data definition includes defining the object types (entity types), relationship types, attributes, and constraints for a particular database application. Typically, the DDL or a graphical user interface is used during the data definition process.

Historical Background

Because database schemas are a fundamental part of structured database systems, it is necessary to undertake a comprehensive database design process to specify the data requirements for the database application. Once the requirements are collected, the data definition...

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Recommended Reading

  1. Elmasri R, Navathe S. Fundamentals of database systems. 7th ed. Pearson; 2016.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Computer Science, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA

    Ramez Elmasri

Authors
  1. Ramez Elmasri
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Correspondence to Ramez Elmasri .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Georgia Institute of Technology College of Computing, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Ling Liu

  2. University of Waterloo School of Computer Science, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

    M. Tamer Özsu

Section Editor information

  1. Computer Science, The University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA

    Ramez Elmasri

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Elmasri, R. (2017). Data Definition. In: Liu, L., Özsu, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Database Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7993-3_80736-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7993-3_80736-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-7993-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-7993-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Computer SciencesReference Module Computer Science and Engineering

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