Chapter 2: Entity Analysis
In Chapter 1, Introduction to Databases, you learned why we use databases. The main concepts behind databases were introduced as well. Now it is time to take a closer look at what we store in databases and how we do so.
With big, complex systems, diving into the details from the start is a recipe for disaster. You won't be able to see the wood for the trees. This is true for database design as well. In the end, you will need to consider all the nitty-gritty details. However, start with the bigger picture first. That is the main goal of this chapter, to start from a high level and use a top-down approach to learn about the system before diving into the details of the design.
The chapter will start with (a lot of) theory and will end with an example.
We will discuss the following topics in this chapter:
- Scope
- Understanding entity relationship diagrams
- Entities
- Relationships
- Creating your first ERD
- Context of an ERD ...
