In today’s time, websites are driven by the database. It has become more important today, as a lot of websites are coming up with a lot of data to be managed. An online based business has to deal with different kinds of data. It collects data, it processes data in a readable format, and eventually, it analyzes data to make crucial business-related decisions. For this reason, data is regarded as an asset in today’s time. In order to protect and manage this asset in a structured manner, you need a robust database management platform.
For database management, SQL has been used as the platform by the enterprises. SQL stands for Structured Query Language. Programmers should have basic knowledge of managing the database. In the following section, we shall discuss the things that programmers should keep in mind when it comes to database management with the help of SQL.
- Keep the Relationship in Mind
If you have basic knowledge of SQL database, you would be already aware of the fact that this language is basically the language of the relational database. With this framework, users have to create tables without creating “orphans.” Instead of the orphans, you need to build tables on the basis of relationships. Orphans are referred to as the tables that do not have any relationship with other tables. This is regarded as the bad practice of the SQL programming. Every table that you create should have a relationship with one or more other tables. Through their designated relationships, tables can be interlinked between each other.
For building a relationship between tables, SQL programmers generally use foreign and primary keys. For example, let us consider that you have two tables and they are the customer table and order table. Now, the order table will become orphan when it does not contain any customer ID. When you put customer ID in the order table; you build a relationship between the two tables. This will help the database to stay relevant. When you search for details about the customer, you shall get order details too with ease, when the two tables are connected.
- Keep the Performance of Queries in Mind
For programmers, it is important to understand the performance of the queries. This comes with experience and expertise. Generally, novice programmers make a common mistake regarding the queries. They commit the mistake of running poor performing queries. When there is data related to a query is small in size, it is obvious that query will run fast. At that point, there is no load on the database server, and thus query runs quite swiftly. But, with the advent of time, size of data will keep increasing. In such conditions, the effects of the poor performing queries will be understood. You need to eliminate those poor performing queries to make the database management process seamless.
- Easier Reading with the Table Aliases
In order to recognize the tables in better ways, programmers always assign a nickname to the tables. Adding the table aliases will help in the database management process, as maintaining large data will be easier due to the unique alias naming of the tables. Nevertheless, during the queries, you do not have to type full table name which is difficult to remember. You can easily remember the alias name and the same name can be used for the queries with ease. When a large database management project is handled, multiple programmers are employed to take care of the database management process. The aliases of the tables help other programmers to understand the tables and their purposes in a better way. For more information on database management, you can check RemoteDBA.com.
- Stay Specific on the Chosen Clauses
In the SQL language, asterisk (*) has been used for the signal to instruct the database to return all column in a table. Many programmers use this method, though they do not understand the drawbacks of this type of programming habit. This could lead to a security issue. For example, let us consider that someone is trying to hack your database. The hacker would gain ease in fetching data with the asterisk. When crucial as well as confidential information is stored in the database, hackers can easily track the information with the help of this method.
There is another problem too. The issue is regarding the performance of the database. When you have adequate records returned from a query, the performance of the database gets slowed down. It will eventually create a messed up situation. Finding specific information would get extremely difficult. Thus, it is always better that you should avoid the use of the asterisk. So, SQL programmers should avoid this bad practice as well.
- Handling Large Batch of Queries with Nocount
At the time of performing ad hoc queries, like updating or adding information to the database, the database engine runs a script to count the number of records that have been affected by your ad hoc query. This is a good practice only in limited conditions. When there is a rare chance that you need to perform, you can use this method. But, this is not the right method to embrace when you need frequent updates on the database. So, NOCOUNT is not mandatory to use in all cases, especially when a certain table of the database needs frequent changes or updates.
- Avoid Dynamic SQL
You need to know about dynamic SQL, though you should try to avoid it as much as it is possible. Today, it has been found that SQL injection is the commonest as well as concerning attack on the database security. With such attacks, severe privacy breach of data can be noted. Dynamic SQL has been regarded as a type of coding where SQL statements are based upon the inputs that are received from a user. As a result, dynamic SQL leads to SQL injection vulnerability.
Conclusion
For database management, there are two key things that you should take into consideration. The first thing is the security of the data. The second thing is the performance of the database. When these two aspects are covered with precision, database management will become easier as well as simpler.