Introduction to Database Management

This course covers the concepts and tools necessary to use database systems. This starts with introducing the relational and semi-structured models of data and then delving into the classic relational query languages (tuple calculus and relational algebra), normalization theory and entity-relationship modeling. This is followed by an in-depth coverage of SQL including its use in a server environment. The last part of the course covers semi-structured data models using XML and accessed via XPath/XQuery. The course consists of two parts: **Part 1, principles, 4.5 credits:** This part covers the following topics: the relational model of data; the use of SQL, as both a stand-alone language and its use in applications with C, Java or Python as the host language, to express queries and updates as well as to declare schemata; the relational algebra and calculus; Entity Relationship-based schema design; and the normalization of relational schemata. The semi-structured data model as represented in XML and accessed in XPath/XQuery. **Part 2, practice, 3 credits.** In the practice part some of the theories and techniques discussed in the principles part are put into practice. This consists of a series of mandatory practical assignments.