Databases builds foundational knowledge in the modelling, access, and modification of data. The module examines how database systems function in the general case, as well as providing specific topics focused on relational data storage. Databases will examine data modelling using concept models (e.g., entity relationship), spreadsheet models, relational data models, and object-oriented models. SQL will be the core language used throughout the module, with content covering selection, joining, and grouping queries.

The Databases module will also examine the legal, social, and ethical context of data storage. Considering information systems as socio-technical systems, ideas of GDPR and Freedom of Information shall be introduced. Furthermore, the module will examine how database systems can be secured from attack, such as from SQL injections.

The aim of Databases is to develop students� fluency in data. The module will require students to specify, access, and modify data stored in relational databases. Databases provides the fifth of five views (data view) delivered in Year 1 of Computer Science, following the software view, hardware view, and formal view delivered in Semester 1, in conjunction with the societal view provided in Computing and Society in Semester 2.

*Course content subject to change