Schema design

For databases that need to define a schema, the specific design to use is something that needs to be considered.

This section will talk specifically about relational databases, as they are the ones that enforce a stricter schema. Other databases are more flexible in their changes, but they also benefit from spending some time thinking about their structure.

Changing the schema is an important action that will require planning and, certainly, a long-term view needs to be applied to the design.

We will talk later in the chapter about how to change the schema of a database. We only need to remark here that mutating the database schema is an unavoidable part of the process of building a system. Nonetheless, it's a process that needs to be taken with respect and understanding what the possible problems are. It's definitely a good idea to spend time thinking about and ensuring an adequate design for the schema.

The best way...