Cloud Computing Study Guide - 05
Study Guide
Beginner → Exam Ready
By Levi J.
2026 Edition
Databases
Introduction to Relational Databases
Relational databases store data in a structured way with:
Rows (Records) - Individual entries
Columns (Fields) - Attributes of the data
They are widely used because of:
Ease of use
Consistency
Well-established best practices
Best used for: When you need structured data elements that require consistent storage.
Key Components
Tables
Structured data containers that store entities (e.g., users, products).
Rows (Records)
Items or data. May contain null values if data is missing.
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, Cloud Computing Study Guide - 05
Columns (Fields)
Properties of data that describe the entity.
Primary Key
A unique identifier for each row.
Foreign Key
Links to a primary key in another table.
Relational Database Design Considerations
Database design depends on workload types:
OLTP (Online Transaction Processing)
Systems that handle day-to-day operations (e.g., orders, data).
OLAP (Online Analytical Processing)
Systems used for analytical and reporting of historical data.
NoSQL Databases
Definition
A non-relational collection of documents. Indexes speed up queries. NoSQL stores data in a flexible structure
rather than tables with rows and columns.
Building Blocks for NoSQL
Like the table of contents in a book, an index helps the database jump directly to requested data without
scanning everything.
Page 2 of 9
Study Guide
Beginner → Exam Ready
By Levi J.
2026 Edition
Databases
Introduction to Relational Databases
Relational databases store data in a structured way with:
Rows (Records) - Individual entries
Columns (Fields) - Attributes of the data
They are widely used because of:
Ease of use
Consistency
Well-established best practices
Best used for: When you need structured data elements that require consistent storage.
Key Components
Tables
Structured data containers that store entities (e.g., users, products).
Rows (Records)
Items or data. May contain null values if data is missing.
Page 1 of 9
, Cloud Computing Study Guide - 05
Columns (Fields)
Properties of data that describe the entity.
Primary Key
A unique identifier for each row.
Foreign Key
Links to a primary key in another table.
Relational Database Design Considerations
Database design depends on workload types:
OLTP (Online Transaction Processing)
Systems that handle day-to-day operations (e.g., orders, data).
OLAP (Online Analytical Processing)
Systems used for analytical and reporting of historical data.
NoSQL Databases
Definition
A non-relational collection of documents. Indexes speed up queries. NoSQL stores data in a flexible structure
rather than tables with rows and columns.
Building Blocks for NoSQL
Like the table of contents in a book, an index helps the database jump directly to requested data without
scanning everything.
Page 2 of 9
