Database 101

Let's answer a whole bunch of database-related questions and then we can get started with making apps that use SQLite. So, what is a database?

What is a database?

A database is both a place of storage and the means to retrieve, store, and manipulate data. It helps to visualize a database before learning how to use it. The actual structure of the internals of a database varies greatly depending upon the database in question. SQLite actually stores all its data in a single file.

It will aid our comprehension greatly; however, if we visualize our data as if it were in a spreadsheet or sometimes, multiple spreadsheets, our database, just like a spreadsheet, will be divided into multiple columns that represent different types of data and rows that represent entries in the database.

Think about a database with names and exam scores. Take a look at the following visual representation of this data to understand how a database would look:

Note, however, that there is an extra column...