Standard Database Questions and Answers
1. What is a database?
Answer: A database is a structured collection of data that allows easy access, management, and
updating. It stores data in such a way that it can be retrieved and manipulated efficiently.
2. What is DBMS?
Answer: DBMS (Database Management System) is software that interacts with the user,
applications, and the database itself to capture and analyze data. Examples: MySQL, Oracle, SQL
Server.
3. What is a relational database?
Answer: A relational database organizes data into tables (relations), where each table consists of
rows and columns. It uses Structured Query Language (SQL) for data access.
4. What is SQL?
Answer: SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standard programming language used to manage
and manipulate relational databases.
5. What is a table in a database?
Answer: A table is a collection of related data held in a structured format of rows and columns.
6. What is a primary key?
Answer: A primary key is a unique identifier for each record in a table. It cannot be null or duplicated.
7. What is a foreign key?
Answer: A foreign key is a field in a table that links to the primary key of another table, used to
maintain referential integrity.
8. What is normalization?
Answer: Normalization is the process of organizing data in a database to reduce redundancy and
improve data integrity.
9. What are the normal forms in normalization?
Answer: 1NF: Eliminate repeating groups.
2NF: Remove partial dependencies.
3NF: Remove transitive dependencies.
BCNF: A stricter version of 3NF.
10. What is a relationship in databases?
Answer: A relationship is an association among entities. Types include: One-to-One, One-to-Many,
Many-to-Many.
11. What is a query?
Answer: A query is a request for data or information from a database table or combination of tables.
12. What is a join in SQL?
Answer: A join is used to combine rows from two or more tables based on a related column. Types:
INNER JOIN, LEFT JOIN, RIGHT JOIN, FULL JOIN.
13. What is a view?
Answer: A view is a virtual table based on the result of a SQL statement. It does not store data
physically.
14. What is indexing?
Answer: Indexing is a technique used to speed up the retrieval of records from a database table.
15. What is a transaction?
Answer: A transaction is a sequence of operations performed as a single logical unit of work. It must
be Atomic, Consistent, Isolated, Durable (ACID properties).
16. What is data integrity?
Answer: Data integrity refers to the accuracy and consistency of data stored in a database.
17. What is a schema?
Answer: A schema is the structure that defines the organization of data in a database, including
tables, views, indexes, etc.
18. What is a constraint?
Answer: Constraints are rules enforced on data columns to ensure data accuracy and integrity.
Types: NOT NULL, UNIQUE, PRIMARY KEY, FOREIGN KEY, CHECK.
19. What is the difference between DELETE and TRUNCATE?
Answer: DELETE: Removes specific rows, can be rolled back.
TRUNCATE: Removes all rows, cannot be rolled back.
20. What is a stored procedure?
Answer: A stored procedure is a set of SQL statements that can be stored and executed on demand
to perform specific tasks.
21. What is a trigger?
Answer: A trigger is a SQL code that is automatically executed in response to certain events on a
particular table or view.
22. What is the difference between a database and a spreadsheet?
Answer: A database handles large amounts of data with complex relationships and supports
multi-user access.
A spreadsheet is suitable for small data sets and individual use.
23. What are the types of DBMS?
Answer: Hierarchical DBMS, Network DBMS, Relational DBMS, Object-oriented DBMS.
24. What is an ER diagram?
Answer: An Entity-Relationship Diagram is a visual representation of entities and their relationships
in a database.
25. What is a deadlock in DBMS?
Answer: A deadlock occurs when two or more transactions wait for each other to release resources,
causing a halt.
