ICDL Using Databases flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Database
- An organised collection of related data structured so it can be stored, searched, updated, and retrieved efficiently, usually held in linked tables.
- Record
- One complete row in a table, containing all the fields that describe a single entity such as one customer or one order.
- Field
- A single column in a table that stores one attribute of the data and has a defined data type controlling the values allowed.
- Primary key
- A field or combination of fields that uniquely identifies each record in a table and cannot contain duplicate or null values.
- Foreign key
- A field in one table holding the primary key value of another table, used to create and enforce a relationship between the two tables.
- One-to-many relationship
- A link where one record in the parent table relates to many records in the child table, such as one customer with many orders.
- Data type
- The property of a field that defines what kind of values it stores, such as text, number, currency, date/time, or yes/no.
- Validation rule
- An expression applied to a field or record that rejects data failing a test, such as a value that must be greater than zero.
- Query object
- A database object that extracts records from tables according to criteria, returning a result set rather than storing the data itself.
- Datasheet view
- The view that displays table data as a grid of rows and columns, allowing records to be entered, edited, sorted, and filtered.
- Design view
- The view used to define or change a table's structure, including field names, data types, keys, and field properties.
- Filter
- A temporary setting that displays only records matching a condition, leaving the underlying stored data unchanged when removed.
- Sorting
- Arranging records in ascending or descending order by one or more fields; it changes display order, not the stored data.
- Referential integrity
- A rule ensuring every foreign key value matches an existing primary key value, preventing orphan records in related tables.
- Relationships window
- The workspace where links between tables are created by joining a primary key to a matching foreign key field.
- Navigation pane
- The panel listing all database objects such as tables, queries, forms, and reports, used to open or manage them.
- Form
- A database object designed for entering, viewing, or editing records one at a time in a controlled screen layout.
- Report
- A database object that presents data in a formatted, printable layout, often grouped and totalled for output.
- Print preview
- A view showing exactly how a report or datasheet will appear on the printed page before output is sent to a printer.
- Field size
- A property limiting the maximum length of text or the numeric range a field can hold, controlling storage and allowed values.
- Input mask
- A field property that controls the pattern of characters entered, such as the positions of digits in a phone number.
- Default value
- A value automatically placed in a field for each new record when the user does not type anything into that field.
- Required field
- A field property that forces a value to be entered, so the record cannot be saved with that field left empty.
- Index
- A structure that speeds up searching and sorting on a field but adds storage overhead and slows record insertion.
- Lookup field
- A field that offers a list of values from a table or fixed list, storing the chosen value in the record.
- Null value
- The absence of any value in a field, distinct from zero or a blank text string, meaning the data was never entered.
- Query criteria
- Conditions entered in the design grid that determine which records a query returns, using operators, values, and wildcards.
- AND versus OR criteria
- Criteria on the same design-grid row must all be true (AND); criteria on separate rows need only one to be true (OR).
- Wildcard asterisk
- The * symbol in query criteria matching any number of characters, used with Like to find text patterns.
- Between operator
- A criterion that matches values within an inclusive range, written as Between lowvalue And highvalue for numbers or dates.
- Aggregate query
- A query using functions such as Sum, Avg, Count, Min, or Max to calculate totals grouped by a chosen field.
- Parameter query
- A query that prompts the user for a value when run, letting one saved query apply different criteria each time.