Database Terminology

Before we start talking about working with databases, we should get some terminology straight. Trust us, we realize you're not here for a vocabulary lesson. However, using the right term in the right spot does make database scripting a lot easier.

Databases

Generally speaking, a database is the largest unit of work in the database world. That is, you typically connect to or open an entire database. Databases have either an actual name such as with SQL Server, or a filename such as with Access and Excel‥With a database like SQL Server can, a single server can host multiple databases. On the other hand, a single Access file (.mdb file) is a single database. Your computer can contain multiple Access files. Even an Excel file (.xls file), which is called a workbook, is technically a sort of database.

Databases may require authentication. For example, SQL Server requires authentication at the server level, which determines the databases you'll be able to access. Access can have authentication enabled on a per-database basis.

Tables

You'll find tables within a database. The best visual example for a table is an Excel sheet that is made up of rows and columns. Each Excel workbook is a table. Remember that each Excel workbook or .xls file can contain multiple sheets that are accessed using the tabs near the bottom of the window. Access and SQL Server databases can also have multiple tables.

Tables also have names. In Excel, it's the sheet name in square brackets followed by a dollar sign. So, internally "Sheet1" is really named "[Sheet1$]". The names used for Access and SQL Server tables can be seen from their respective graphical user interfaces.

Rows and Columns, Records and Fields

The nitty-gritty of a database is what's inside a table, which are rows and columns. In the database world, rows are often referred to as records, while columns are sometimes called fields. If you have a table named Computers, it might have columns named ComputerName, SerialNumber, and BIOSVersion. A single row might contain the name, serial number, and version for a single computer.