Relational Databases 101: Their Prelavence and Relevance Today

6 min read – Feb 27, 2023

Relational databases are a type of database management system (DBMS) that stores data in tables consisting of rows and columns, with relationships between tables defined by keys. Relational databases are widely used in various industries and applications, and are considered one of the most important technologies for managing and manipulating data.

In this article, we will provide an introduction to relational databases, including their basic structure, key concepts, and common use cases.

Basic Structure

Relational databases store data in tables, which are composed of rows and columns. Each row in a table represents a single record, while each column represents a specific attribute of that record. For example, a table of customer information might include columns for first name, last name, address, and phone number, with each row representing a single customer.

In addition to tables, relational databases also use relationships to link data between tables. Relationships are defined by keys, which are unique identifiers for each record in a table. For example, a customer table might have a primary key of customer ID, which is used to link to other tables, such as an orders table.

Key Concepts

There are 4 main key concepts that are important to understand when working with relational databases:

1. Tables: Tables are the basic unit of data storage in a relational database. Each table consists of rows and columns, with each row representing a single record and each column representing a specific attribute of that record.
2. Relationships: Relationships are used to link data between tables. Relationships are defined by keys, which are unique identifiers for each record in a table. There are two types of keys: primary keys, which are unique identifiers for a table, and foreign keys, which are used to link to other tables.
3. Normalization: Normalization is the process of organizing data in a database to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity. There are several levels of normalization, each with its own set of rules for organizing data.
4. SQL: SQL is the language used to interact with relational databases. SQL allows users to create, modify, and query databases, and is an essential skill for anyone working with relational databases.

Prevalence of Relational Databases

Relational databases are used in a wide range of applications, including:

1. Transaction Processing: Relational databases are used in transaction processing systems, where consistency and data integrity are essential. For example, a bank might use a relational database to manage customer accounts and transactions.
2. Business Intelligence: Relational databases are also used for business intelligence and reporting, allowing organizations to analyze and report on data from multiple sources.
3. E-commerce: E-commerce websites use relational databases to manage product information, customer information, and order processing.
4. Content Management: Relational databases are also used in content management systems, allowing websites to store and retrieve content from a database.

The prevalence of relational databases is evident in the fact that they are used by many of the largest and most successful companies in the world, including Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. These companies rely on relational databases to manage their vast amounts of data and to provide the services that they offer to their customers.

According to a recent survey by DB-Engines, which measures the popularity of database management systems, relational databases continue to be the most widely used type of database. The survey found that the top three database management systems in terms of popularity are all relational databases: Oracle, MySQL, and Microsoft SQL Server. Other popular relational databases include PostgreSQL, IBM DB2, and SQLite.

Continued Relevence of Relational Databases in 2023

As of 2023, relational databases continue to be widely used in various industries and applications. According to recent surveys and reports, relational databases still dominate the database market, with a market share of around 80% or more.

One of the main reasons for the continued popularity of relational databases is their ability to provide consistent and reliable data management, particularly in transaction processing and business-critical applications. Relational databases also have a long history of being well-understood and well-supported, with mature technologies and established best practices for deployment and management.

Prevalence of SQL in the Data Industry

SQL is widely used in various industries and applications, and is considered an essential skill for anyone working with data.

There are several reasons why it is important to learn SQL:

1. Data Analysis: SQL is a powerful tool for data analysis, allowing you to extract and manipulate large volumes of data quickly and efficiently. By learning SQL, you can perform complex queries to extract specific data from databases, and perform aggregations and calculations to generate insights and reports.
2. Data Management: SQL is also essential for managing data in relational databases. SQL allows you to create, modify, and delete database tables, and add, update, and delete records within those tables. With SQL, you can ensure data integrity and consistency, and enforce business rules and constraints to ensure data quality.
3. Career Advancement: SQL is a highly sought-after skill in the job market, particularly in roles such as data analyst, data scientist, database administrator, and software developer. By learning SQL, you can increase your employability and open up opportunities for career advancement.
4. Collaboration: SQL is a standardized language, meaning that it can be used across different database management systems and platforms. By learning SQL, you can collaborate effectively with colleagues and teams who use different database systems, and share data and queries with others more easily.
5. Problem Solving: Learning SQL can also improve your problem-solving skills. SQL requires logical thinking and attention to detail, and can help you develop a systematic approach to problem solving.

SQL is so prevalent that it has become a standard for relational databases. Almost all major database vendors support SQL, and many programming languages, tools, and frameworks have built-in support for SQL. (Python and SQLAlchemy, R and dbplyr, Javascript and Node.js). SQL is used by a wide range of industries, including finance, healthcare, e-commerce, government, and more.

The popularity of SQL is evident in the fact that many of the most popular database management systems, such as Oracle, MySQL, and Microsoft SQL Server, are based on SQL.

Furthermore, there are numerous job opportunities for individuals who have experience with SQL. A quick search on popular job websites shows that SQL is a required or preferred skill for many data-related positions, such as data analyst, database administrator, data scientist, and more.

Relevance of SQL Today

According to a survey by Stack Overflow in 2021, SQL was the second most popular programming language among developers, behind only JavaScript. The survey also found that SQL was the most commonly used language for working with databases, with 58.9% of respondents using it. The popularity of SQL has remained relatively consistent in recent years, with it consistently ranking in the top five most popular programming languages in the Stack Overflow survey.

Another survey by DB-Engines, which measures the popularity of database management systems, found that the top three database management systems in terms of popularity were all relational databases that use SQL: Oracle, MySQL, and Microsoft SQL Server. Other popular relational databases include PostgreSQL, IBM DB2, and SQLite.

Conclusion

Relational databases and SQL continue to be relevant and prevalent in the technology industry today. Relational databases provide a flexible and organized way of storing large amounts of data while maintaining its integrity and security. They are widely used in various industries, including finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and government.

SQL, as the standard language for working with relational databases, is a necessary skill for developers, data analysts, and database administrators. It allows for efficient manipulation of data and is a requirement for many data-related job positions. SQL has consistently ranked as one of the most popular programming languages among developers, and the most commonly used language for working with databases.

The popularity of relational databases and SQL is evidenced by the fact that many major database vendors support SQL, and that the most popular database management systems are all relational databases that use SQL. In addition, the growth of data-driven industries such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science have increased the importance of relational databases and SQL.