Why relational database is called relational

A relational database refers to a database that stores data in a structured format, using rows and columns.

This makes it easy to locate and access specific values within the database. It is "relational" because the values within each table are related to each other. Tables may also be related to other tables. The relational structure makes it possible to run queries across multiple tables at once.

It is the software that executes queries on the data, including adding, updating, and searching for values. For example, it may display data in a tables like a spreadsheet , allowing you to view and even edit individual values in the table.

Some RDMBS programs allow you to create forms that can streamline entering, editing, and deleting data. Some of these programs support non-relational databases, but they are primarily used for relational database management. If you would like to reference this page or cite this definition, you can use the green citation links above. The goal of TechTerms. We strive for simplicity and accuracy with every definition we publish.

If you have feedback about the RDBMS definition or would like to suggest a new technical term, please contact us. Relational databases maintain data in tables, providing an efficient, intuitive, and flexible way to store and access structured information. Tables, also known as relations, consist of columns containing one or more data categories, and rows, also known as table records, containing a set of data defined by the category. Applications access data by specifying queries, which use operations such as project to identify attributes, select to identify tuples, and join to combine relations.

Codd in Relational databases provide an environment from which data can be accessed or reassembled in a variety of different ways without needing to reorganize the database tables. Each table has a unique identifier, or primary key, which identifies the information in the table, and each row contains a unique instance of data for the categories defined by the columns. The logical connection between different tables can then be established with the use of foreign keys - a field in a table that connects to the primary key data of another table.

Relational Database Management Systems often employ SQL or structured query language for gathering data for reports and for interactive queries. The relational model of the relational database separates logical data structures from physical storage structures, enabling database administrators to manage physical data storage without affecting access to that data as a logical structure.

The distinction also applies to database operations -- logical operations allow an application to specify the content it needs, and physical operations determine how that data should be accessed, then carries out the task.