Computer Science · Theme A: Concepts of computer science

A3.2 — Database design

Computer Science · SL / HL · syllabus-mapped notes

1. CS_A3.2.1

   Database schemas

   Conceptual, logical and physical schemas as abstractions at different levels.

2. CS_A3.2.2

   Constructing ERDs

   Entities, relationships, and the roles of cardinality and modality.

3. CS_A3.2.3

   Data types in relational databases

   Common data types, why consistency matters, and effects of a wrong type.

4. CS_A3.2.4

   Constructing tables

   Primary, foreign, composite and concatenated keys for well-defined tables.

5. CS_A3.2.5

   Difference between normal forms

   1NF, 2NF, 3NF and the dependency terms behind normalization.

6. CS_A3.2.6

   Normalizing to 3NF

   Building a 3NF design for a real-world scenario, step by step.

7. CS_A3.2.7

   The need for denormalization

   Weighing read performance against redundancy risk.