Similar to the other topics we have covered in this book, there are a large number of databases ranging from basic patterns concerning the schema of a database to patterns that govern how database systems are put together. This section will cover two system patterns, Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) and Online Analytical Processing (OLAP). To further understand database design patterns, we will explore a specific pattern, ledger-style databases, in more detail.
A database schema is another word for the collection of tables, views, stored procedures, and other components that make up a database. Think of this as the blueprint of the database.