Databases: tables, records and queries

Schools, shops and games all keep huge amounts of data in databases. A database stores data in tables so it can be searched in a fraction of a second.

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Tables, records and fields

A database is an organised store of data. Data is kept in tables.
Each row is a record: all the data about one thing (one pet).
Each column is a field: one piece of data about every record, such as Age.
A primary key is a field that is different for every record, so each record can be identified. Here it is PetID.
The Pets table
PetIDNameAnimalAge
1Biscuitdog4
2Lunacat2
3Nibblesrabbit1
4Shadowcat7
5Pepperdog9

Queries

A query searches the database for records that match a condition. Many databases use a language called SQL.
SELECT Name FROM Pets WHERE Animal = 'cat'
returns: Luna, Shadow.
SELECT says which fields to show, FROM says which table, WHERE gives the condition.
The Pets table
PetIDNameAnimalAge
1Biscuitdog4
2Lunacat2
3Nibblesrabbit1
4Shadowcat7
5Pepperdog9

Why use a database?

Data is stored once, in one place, so it is easier to keep accurate.
Queries find and sort data quickly, even with millions of records.
Each field has a data type (such as text or integer), which helps stop mistakes like typing a word into Age.
Spreadsheets are good for calculations and charts; databases are better for large amounts of linked data.
Worked example

Using the Pets table, what does this query return?
SELECT Name, Age FROM Pets WHERE Age >= 2 ORDER BY Age

  1. WHERE Age >= 2 keeps every pet aged 2 or more: Biscuit, Luna, Shadow, Pepper (Nibbles is 1).
  2. ORDER BY Age sorts from youngest to oldest.

Answer: Luna (2), Biscuit (4), Shadow (7), Pepper (9)

Key idea

A database stores data in tables. A record is one row about one thing, a field is one column, and a primary key is unique for every record. Queries such as SELECT ... FROM ... WHERE ... find matching records.

Key words
AND
A Boolean operator that gives True (1) only when both inputs are True.
Condition
An expression that is either True or False, such as score > 50, used in if statements and while loops.
Data type
The kind of data a value is, such as integer, real (float), string or Boolean.
Integer
A whole number data type, such as 7 or −3.

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. In a database table, what is a field?

    1. One row of data
    2. The whole table
    3. A chart
    4. One column, holding one type of data
    Show the answer

    Answer: One column, holding one type of data

    A field is a column.

  2. In the Pets table, the row 4, Shadow, cat, 7 is a...

    1. field
    2. primary key
    3. query
    4. record
    Show the answer

    Answer: record

    One row is one record.

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Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.