--- title: Database Design description: Database design is the process of planning and structuring a database to ensure data integrity and efficiency. Learners will understand entity-relationship diagrams, normalization, primary and foreign keys, and how to design schemas that prevent data redundancy. category: programming-tech subcategory: databases difficulty: beginner, intermediate, advanced url: /subject/database-design --- # Database Design Database design is the process of planning and structuring a database to ensure data integrity and efficiency. Learners will understand entity-relationship diagrams, normalization, primary and foreign keys, and how to design schemas that prevent data redundancy. ## Where to start Start with Database Star, Ben Brumm's free tutorial site, whose normalisation and schema modelling guides include runnable scripts so you can practise each technique. If you only use one resource, make it Michael J. Hernandez's Database Design for Mere Mortals, a vendor-neutral, step-by-step method for relational design. For the theory behind normal forms, move on to C. J. Date's Database Design and Relational Theory. ## Available Resources 2 Books • 2 Courses • 5 Websites ## Websites ### 1. dbdiagram.io A browser-based diagramming tool where you write schemas in a simple DSL and it renders the entity-relationship diagram automatically. Useful for sketching tables, keys and relationships, then exporting SQL DDL or sharing the diagram. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://dbdiagram.io/ **Tags:** erd, schema-design, data-modeling, sql, diagramming ### 2. Database Star Ben Brumm's tutorial site covering SQL syntax across Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQL Server, plus normalization and schema modelling guides. Articles include runnable scripts and sample datasets, so readers can practise each design or query technique directly. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://www.databasestar.com/ **Tags:** sql, normalization, data-modeling, relational-databases, tutorials ### 3. vertabelo.com Vertabelo is an online data modeling and database design platform that lets you create and visualize ER diagrams, design schemas, and generate SQL code. It also offers tutorials, articles, and resources on database design best practices for learners and professionals. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://vertabelo.com **Tags:** websites, technology-computer-science, database--backend ### 4. SQLShack Free article library started by ApexSQL, written by SQL Server professionals, covering T-SQL, indexing, query tuning, backup and recovery, high availability, auditing and SSIS. Readers can follow step-by-step examples to administer, secure and tune SQL Server instances. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://sqlshack.com **Tags:** sql-server, t-sql, database-administration, performance-tuning, backup-and-recovery ### 5. use-the-index-luke.com A practical guide to database indexing and query optimization, offering clear explanations of how indexes work, how to design them, and tutorials with SQL examples across major relational databases. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://use-the-index-luke.com **Tags:** websites, technology-computer-science, computer-sciences ## Books ### 1. Database Design for Mere Mortals **Author:** Michael J. Hernandez A vendor-neutral, step-by-step method for relational design: identifying entities, defining fields and keys, establishing table relationships and applying business rules. Readers finish able to produce a normalized logical schema before writing any SQL. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/0201694719?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** books, technology-computer-science, database--backend ### 2. Database Design and Relational Theory **Author:** C. J. Date C.J. Date grounds schema design in the formal relational model, working through functional dependencies, normal forms up to fifth and sixth, and why each matters. Prior comfort with SQL and set theory is assumed. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/1449328016?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** books, technology-computer-science, database--backend ## Courses ### 1. Database Design University of Colorado Boulder course, part of its data science master's, covering the relational model, entity-relationship modelling and normal forms. Learners translate requirements into an ER diagram and then into normalized SQL table definitions. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://www.coursera.org/learn/relational-database-design **Tags:** courses, technology-computer-science, database ### 2. Advanced Database Design Microsoft's SQL Server course pairing normalization and entity-relationship modelling with advanced querying: complex joins, subqueries, common table expressions and aggregates. Learners build schema objects with DDL, enforce constraints, and write analytical queries against them. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://www.coursera.org/learn/relational-database-design-and-advanced-querying **Tags:** courses, technology-computer-science, database--backend --- *This content is part of Dantes.io - Your Treasure Map to Knowledge* *Curated by humans at Dantes.io. Personal study use welcome; republishing this curation requires permission (team@dantes.io).* View this page online: https://dantes.io/subject/database-design