--- title: Databases description: Databases are structured systems for storing, managing, and retrieving data. You will understand relational and non-relational database models, write SQL queries, design schemas, and manage data integrity and transactions for modern software applications. category: programming-tech subcategory: computer-science difficulty: beginner, intermediate, advanced url: /subject/databases --- # Databases Databases are structured systems for storing, managing, and retrieving data. You will understand relational and non-relational database models, write SQL queries, design schemas, and manage data integrity and transactions for modern software applications. ## Where to start Start with sqlzoo.net, a free interactive tutorial where you write SELECT, JOIN and aggregation queries against live databases with immediate feedback. If you only use one resource, make it Database System Concepts by Abraham Silberschatz and Henry F. Korth, the standard university textbook on the relational model, schema design and transactions. Then take Andy Pavlo's Introduction to Database Systems (15-445/645) to see how a database engine is built. ## Available Resources 3 Books • 2 Courses • 5 Websites ## Websites ### 1. CMU 15-445 Course Site Carnegie Mellon's undergraduate database systems course site, with full lecture videos, slides, notes and programming assignments. Covers storage layout, indexing, query execution and optimisation, concurrency control and recovery, the internals of how a relational engine is built. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://15445.courses.cs.cmu.edu/ **Tags:** databases, database-internals, query-optimization, transactions, computer-science ### 2. db-engines.com DB-Engines is a comprehensive catalog of database management systems (SQL and NoSQL) with detailed profiles, features, licenses, data models, and use cases. It also offers a popularity ranking and comparison tools to help users choose a DBMS. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://db-engines.com **Tags:** websites, technology-computer-science, computer-sciences ### 3. 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 ### 4. db.cs.cmu.edu Carnegie Mellon University's Database Group site is a hub for database research and education. It includes faculty profiles, course information, publications, seminars, and project pages related to database systems. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://db.cs.cmu.edu **Tags:** websites, technology-computer-science, computer-sciences ### 5. sqlzoo.net SQLZoo.net is an interactive SQL learning resource offering free tutorials and hands-on practice with live databases. It provides step-by-step lessons and coding exercises on SQL topics (SELECT, JOIN, aggregation, etc.) with immediate feedback. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://sqlzoo.net **Tags:** websites, technology-computer-science, computer-sciences ## Courses ### 1. Introduction to Database Systems (15-445/645) Learn relational database systems from Carnegie Mellon's Andy Pavlo. Explore core concepts and implementations! **Difficulty:** Advanced | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://15445.courses.cs.cmu.edu/fall2024/ **Tags:** database-internals, query-optimization, storage-engines, concurrency-control, transactions ### 2. Databases BITS Pilani's Coursera course on database systems beyond the relational model. Ten modules cover CAP theorem and consistency, MongoDB, Neo4j graph queries, DynamoDB key-value stores, Redis, cloud databases, Kafka streaming and lakehouse warehousing, with Spring Boot integration. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://www.coursera.org/learn/modern-databases-odc **Tags:** courses, technology-computer-science, computer-sciences ## Podcasts ### 1. GraphStuff.FM: The Neo4j Graph Database Developer Podcast **Author:** Jason Koo, Jennifer Reif, Andreas Kollegger, Alison Cossette Developer podcast produced by Neo4j staff covering graph databases from introductory to advanced: graph data modelling, Cypher queries, tooling, open-source projects and real applications. Listeners learn when a graph model fits a problem and how graph-backed systems are built. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** en | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://graphstuff.fm **Tags:** graph-databases, neo4j, cypher, data-modeling ## Books ### 1. SQL in 10 Minutes, Sams Teach Yourself **Author:** Ben Forta Ben Forta's short lessons cover the core of standard SQL: SELECT, filtering, joins, subqueries, views, and stored procedures, with examples for several database engines. Finishing gives you working query skills without database-administration detail. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/0672316641?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** books, technology-computer-science, database--backend ### 2. Database System Concepts **Author:** Henry F. Korth, Abraham Silberschatz The standard university textbook on relational database systems, covering the relational model, SQL, schema design and normalisation, storage and indexing, query processing, transactions, concurrency control and recovery. Widely assigned as the core text for an undergraduate database course. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071008047?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** books, technology-computer-science, computer-sciences ### 3. NoSQL Distilled **Author:** Pramod J. Sadalage, Martin Fowler A short guide to polyglot persistence: why non-relational stores emerged, and how key-value, document, column-family and graph models differ. Explains aggregate-oriented data modelling, consistency trade-offs, sharding and replication so you can judge which store fits a given problem. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/0321826620?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** books, technology-computer-science, computer-sciences --- *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/databases