Database Design Tutorial

1. Database Design Introduction

Why schema design matters and the process: identifying entities, relationships, and constraints.

2. Normalization

1NF, 2NF, and 3NF explained with a before/after example, and when to deliberately denormalize.

3. Indexing Strategy

What to index, composite index column order, and the real costs of over-indexing.

4. Transactions and ACID

Atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability, each explained with a concrete failure example.

5. Case Study: Designing an Order System

A complete worked example: entity identification, normalization decisions, and the final schema for an e-commerce order system.

6. Denormalization Patterns in Practice

Read replicas, denormalized reporting tables, and materialized aggregates, with a concrete before/after example.

7. Database Design Interview Questions

Real database design interview questions and answers covering normalization, keys, and ACID.