Fundamentals of Database Systems

by Shamkant B. Navathe, Shamkant B. Navathe

Clear explanations of theory and design, broad coverage of models and real systems, and an up-to-date introduction to modern database technologies result in a leading introduction to database systems. With fresh new problems and a new lab manual, students get more opportunities to practice the fundamentals of design and implementation. More real-world examples serve as engaging, practical illustrations of database concepts. The Fifth Edition maintains its coverage of the most popular database topics, including SQL, security, data mining, and contains a new chapter on web script programming for databases.

Genres: Computer Science, Technical, Nonfiction, Computers, Reference, Textbooks, Academic

1139 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Nawal Al-Qussyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

اعشق هالكتاب..
درسته في لفل ٥
مع دكتورة منى بن عيسى
كان من احسن الكورسات وكانت المحاضرة من امتع المحاضرات وكنت ما اغيب فيها ولا احب اغيب
واسلم الشيتات كاملة واختباراتي كانت شي يجنن
وكنت اشرح للكل من كثر ماحبيت المادة
الكتاب ممتاز جدا جدا جدا
الاسلوب واااضح ومباشر ومافي اي تعقيد حتي اللي انجليزيته مش ولا بد بيقدر يمشي نفسه لو كان فاهم في مصطلحات الكمبويتر بشكل عام
الكتاب حجم ثقيل لكنه يستاهل.. برضو سعر كثير لكنه مرجع
كنا نرجع له كثير في الواجبات ونلاقي تفسيرات رائعة وشرح حلو
انصح كل المهتمين بمجال الداتا بيس انهم يبدون من هنا

[D · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read select sections. The writing is tedious. It is not very readable. Reader has to spend a lot of time cross-referencing illustrations with text. Spends a lot of time on formalism and examples but doesn't do a very good job contextualizing or motivating the content.

The textbook suffers from feature creep. There are 7 editions and they probably could have stopped after the first. Many of the paragraphs feel like "updates" and reading continuity suffers as a result. Feels like a money grab. If you assign this book for a class, go for an older and cheaper edition.

The writing is too wordy: "this is what we will write about"... "this is what we are writing about"... "this is what we just wrote about". "The definition of X, sometimes called Y or Z is blah blah"... "when we perform X (sometimes called Y or Z) blah blah"... "blah blah Z". It also repeats much of the content. I have to resist the urge to skim because the writing is so tiresome.

[Andrew Obrigewitsch · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm reading this for my intro to database management class. This book shouldn't be anywhere near an intro course. Maybe somewhere after the second course, it would be fine. Instead of explaining the basic concepts first and building up. It hits one with super detailed descriptions down to the most minute detail, which for a beginner does nothing as most of the time you don't even know what the book is referring to, and get tired of looking up references to completely unnecessary technical ideas.

All teachers out there, find a simpler book to start with. This book would be great for someone that knows the basics and wants to take things to a super detailed level.

[Alejandro Teruel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first edition of this book in the early 1990s and was blown away by its simple and clear explanations compared to other textbooks of the time (Date, Wiederhold). I very much appreciated its treatment of EER (chapters 3, 15, 16).

Since then I have dipped into more recent editions from time to time and always found it worthwhile.

[Arvydas Sidorenko · Rating 2 out of 5]

A *very* dry theory on databases containing no practical information whatsoever. It helped me to ace relational algebra and database theory exam, but for anything else I wouldn't recommend it for anyone.

[Iurii Mednikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this book during a course in database modeling and database systems at the undergraduate level. What could I say about this publication? Well, first of all, I am a bit shocked by a number of one-star reviews like “I didn’t like this book because it is for computing professionals”. Yes, this is a **textbook** for CS majors, not another “for dummies” title. It is an introduction, but it is not meant for absolute beginners. It is as an introduction course for CS students in database systems. And, well, like all textbooks (not only in a field of computer science) it has advantages and disadvantages that originate from its nature.

First, this book will give you a solid foundation in a theory of relational databases, as well in particular principals regarding their implementations. If you choose a database for your projects based on Reddit comments - well, you have to start reading this book asap. As I had to read 6th edition, I found some material irrelevant in regard to current state of the art, but still, when it comes to relational databases - this book covers everything you need to know, at least on the undergraduate level.

Second, it uses standard SQL. There is nothing bad in that - and frankly speaking - this is what you expect from a good textbook. But if you it is your first time with relational databases, I strongly encourage you to combine this book with some comprehensive tutorial or book on particular DBMS vendor. I suggest you to stick with PostgreSQL or MySQL. Several good options available, for example “MySQL Crash Course” by Ben Forta.

Also, try to follow example queries and recreate them on your own database. Maybe not exact ones, but at least principles. Then, analyze them using domain-specific knowledge, if there any possibility to use vendor features to improve them? But, still, you have to focus first on core relational database concepts, rather particular implementations. This is the proven way to avoid Reddit opinions in your future decision making. Practice makes perfect.

Finally, I disagree with those reviewers who say that the style of this book is too mathematical. The book follows quite easy to understand approach (of course, if you are CS student). It provides some summary of relational algebra but it is quite feasible (again, if you had some math introduction already).

To sum up, I think that if you will treat this book as a CS textbook, it is possible to give it 5 out of 5. All textbooks are boring, all textbook are long. But this book serves its purpose well and give you an introduction in all core concepts you may need. As I have mentioned already, you have to go beyond and learn additional staff outside the scope of this publication. If you just want to read 1 book on the subject - I suggest you to change your profession. CS is not for you.

Overall, it is a very good and comprehensive textbook and I would recommend it for all computing students.

[Marleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hope I never have to crack this book ever again.

[Adil Raja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently had a chance to read the sixth edition of this book (I wonder where I can find an entry for that particular edition so that I could have written a review for that explicitly). This is a brilliant book. It takes the reader from ground up, without assuming any prior knowledge of the subject domain. The authors start off with general descriptions of database systems, their history, and evolution, and gradually introduce the relevant topics. Treatment of relational algebra, basic SQL, data analysis techniques, entity relationship diagrams and normalization are particularly interesting. Moreover, other topics such as indexing, block storage mechanisms, query optimization, query trees and distributed database systems are also presented in an extremely lucid vernacular.

[Eric Phetteplace · Rating 1 out of 5]

Textbook for LIS490DB Introduction to Databases

Really poor textbook. Repeatedly framed things in set theory, which is unnecessary and probably only served to confuse non-mathematics majors, also failed to demonstrate good naming practices in database examples. I basically stopped reading the textbook and started using online materials and lecture slides instead. The Wikipedia articles on databases are far superior to this monstrosity. I did use the book as a reference guide a few times and will probably keep it around, but I'm almost certain there's better stuff out there available for free (it would be shocking if MySQL, for instance, didn't have a wiki and stellar forum support).

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

well, this book is great for those who wants to master database=P

[Arun]

noting

[CD Athuraliya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you need to know about databases in simple terms.

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just awful. Difficult to read and understand. Written as though you are either a mathematician or computer technician. As someone who is used to working in the front end of databases and trying to learn the back-house operations, this book was useless. I read some of the sections to a person who works in database systems, he didn’t understand what the book was saying either. The chapters were also out of order: if you the chapters numerically, you first build a database, then you diagram it based on your needs.... putting the cart before the horse there, don’t you think? I’m not kidding: diagramming your design for your database is chapter 7. They have a diagram of how the book is structure on preface page xii: it looks like a diamond with a bunch of zigzags in it.

It was more helpful for me to just learn from class instruction and use the book as a doorstop.

[Pankachu102 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as part of a Data Analytics MBA class. The size of this book is very daunting, but they specifically note it is meant to be broken into sections and used for multiple classes. Some of the topics are over my head, but lead to some good discussions with my companies Data Administrator.

Chapters were read in following order: Preface(n), 1, 2, 13(o), 16(o), 17(o), 3, 5, 6, 7, 29, 23(p), 24(p), 25(p), 30(p), 4(n), 8(n), 9(n), 10(n), 11(n) 12(n), 14(n*), 15(n*), 18(n), 19(n), 20(n), 21(n), 22(n), 26(n), 27(n*), 28 (n), APDX (n), APDX (n), APDX (n)

(n) not assigned
(o) optional reading
(p) partially assigned
(*) of partially interest to me

[Ibrahim Radi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge book to carry around. Goes in-depth the topics. I would have preferred to have more explanation and detailed examples on Data Modelling.
All teachers out there, find a simpler book to start with. This book would be great for someone that knows the basics and wants to take things to a super detailed level.
I've been reading First 7th Chapters of this book in a Data Base course at the university.

[Juan Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is certainly a great introduction to database technologies as a whole. It's easy to follow from start, giving a well-rounded explanation of what a database means, who interacts with them, and more. I owe to this book, the great interest and passion of studying relational databases, relational models and SQL.

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some basics of Database Systems. Useful parts for me were:
- in Chapter 9 "Relational Mapping, DB design,
- in Chapter 5 about "Relational model concepts, constraints aaand
- in Chapter 3 "Data modeling using the Entity Relationship".

[Abhishek D Purkayastha · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the most tedious and wordy books I’ve ever read. Explains the relational algebra part well. Book lacks enough practical examples. Complex concepts are explained in a overly complex way, which in my opinion never makes it easy to learn.

[Ahmed Abd El-Hamid · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books that covers all the basics of Database Systems .. It contains in-depth knowledge and is definitely worth reading if you want to improve your knowledge in Databases

[Nema · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved database and i needed to read the book

[Anjan HR]

nice

[Christopher Nyam · Rating 1 out of 5]

My mistake, I have never read this book, please

[Gate Stats · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Ангел Томов · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little bit old approaches, but the book gives very good fundamentals for those who haven't got a clue of how database systems are administered/created/supported and many more!

[AbdulAzeez Alobaidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

hjjkhkhkkkkhkhhkk

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heavy reading, but gave a very good idea of the inners of database systems in 2009.

[Apoorva HN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could be smaller than its present size

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for CS6400 - Database Systems Concepts and Design for Georgia Institute of Technology.

Merged review:

Read for CS6400 - Database Systems Concepts and Design for Georgia Institute of Technology.

[ddri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed if only to reinforce one of the core and common texts that underpin what is fast becoming a fractured and divergent field. One day we will mourn the passing of the relational database, but for now, this is a staple read for any in the field.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers a lot of ground in database concepts and techniques. However, by the time I read this edition, the seventh edition was already up with some important updates on concepts such as object oriented databases, hadoop and more.