Chapter 5
Databases

Overview

Databases are the most important commercial application of computers. Everybody seems to collect data of some sort. We will look at relational databases, explain their mathematical foundation, and discuss a few design issues that arise in developing a database for an application. We present a package with the most important database functions. Concepts are explained with an example, a database of classical music recordings.

Programs

Databases.m

RecordManager.m

music.db

Tetrix.m

Color Plates

Plate 5

Resources on the Internet

CDnow!

An example of an online CD shop with a database search engine.