Database development turns a raw list of facts into linked tables and then gets answers out of them. The order is normalise, join, summarise and check.
This guide follows data and databases and sits in SPM Computer Science.
Why do the steps come in this order?
Take a sports day register where each row lists a student, their house, the house teacher and up to three events. The house teacher repeats for every student, and the events crowd into three columns.
Normalising splits the register into Student, House and Entry tables. Joins then bring the facts back together for a report, aggregation counts entries per house, and integrity checks make sure every entry points to a real student.
What are the lessons?
| Step | Lesson | What it trains |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Normalising a small data set | splitting repeated facts |
| 2 | Joining related tables | querying across keys |
| 3 | Aggregation and filtering | counting and summing |
| 4 | Checking referential integrity | keeping links valid |
Then test all four with the database development practice set.
Where does SQL reasoning fit?
For a slower look at how queries behave on small fictional data, go to SQL reasoning in a fictional database. It predicts outputs before running anything, which builds the habit exams reward.
Who should start where?
A student who has just learnt keys should begin with normalising. A student who writes SELECT comfortably but breaks on two tables should go to joins.
A student who wants a teacher to watch them work can use the one-hour trial class (from RM50), a taught lesson on the Computer Science topic you choose. See also online one-to-one Computer Science tuition.