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Jennifer Widom

About the Database Series of Courses

"Databases" was one of Stanford's three inaugural massive open online courses in the fall of 2011. It has been offered in synchronous and then in self-paced versions on a variety of platforms continuously since 2011. The material is now being offered as a set of five self-paced courses, which can be taken in a variety of ways to learn about different aspects of databases.

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About the Database Series of Courses

"Databases" was one of Stanford's three inaugural massive open online courses in the fall of 2011. It has been offered in synchronous and then in self-paced versions on a variety of platforms continuously since 2011. The material is now being offered as a set of five self-paced courses, which can be taken in a variety of ways to learn about different aspects of databases.

Relational Databases and SQL is the most popular course in the Databases series. It is applicable to learners seeking to gain a strong understanding of relational databases, and to master SQL, the long-accepted standard query language for relational database systems. Additional courses focus on advanced concepts in relational databases and SQL, formal foundations and database design methodologies, and semistructured data.

All of the courses are based around video lectures and demos. Many of them include quizzes between video segments to check understanding, in-depth standalone quizzes, and/or a variety of automatically-checked interactive exercises. Each course also includes an unmoderated discussion forum and pointers to readings and resources. The courses are described briefly below. Taught by Professor Jennifer Widom, the overall curriculum draws from Stanford's popular longstanding Databases course.

Why Learn About Databases

Databases are incredibly prevalent -- they underlie technology used by most people every day if not every hour. Databases reside behind a huge number of websites; they're a crucial component of telecommunications systems, banking systems, video games, and just about any other software system or electronic device that maintains some amount of persistent information. In addition to persistence, database systems provide a number of other properties that make them exceptionally useful and convenient: reliability, efficiency, scalability, concurrency control, data abstractions, and high-level query languages. Databases are so ubiquitous and important that computer science graduates frequently cite their database class as the one most useful to them in their industry or graduate-school careers.

What you'll learn

Stanford's online offering in Databases is now available as a set of five self-paced courses:

Databases: Relational Databases and SQL

  • Introduction to the relational model and concepts in relational databases and relational database management systems
  • Comprehensive coverage of SQL, the long-accepted standard query language for relational database management systems

Databases: Advanced Topics in SQL (prerequisite: Relational Databases and SQL)

  • Creating indexes for increased query performance
  • Using transactions for concurrency control and failure recovery
  • Database constraints: key, referential integrity, and "check" constraints
  • Database triggers
  • How views are created, used, and updated in relational databases
  • Authorization in relational databases

Databases: OLAP and Recursion

  • Star schemas, the data cube concept, and On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) features in relational databases including the Cube and Rollup operators
  • The SQL standard for queries over recursively-defined relations

Databases: Modeling and Theory

  • Relational algebra – the algebraic query language that provides the formal foundations of SQL
  • Dependency theory and normal forms in relational databases as the basis of schema design
  • The data-modeling component of the Unified Modeling Language (UML), how UML diagrams are translated to relations

Databases: Semistructured Data

  • The XML model for semistructured and self-describing data, including DTDs and some features of XML Schema
  • The JSON model for human-readable structured or semistructured data
  • The XPath language for processing XML data, and many features of the more advanced XQuery language
  • An introduction to the XSLT rule-based language for querying and transforming XML data

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Introduction to the relational model and concepts in relational databases and relational database management systems
  • Comprehensive coverage of sql, the long-accepted standard query language for relational database management systems
  • Creating indexes for increased query performance
  • Using transactions for concurrency control and failure recovery
  • Database constraints: key, referential integrity, and "check" constraints
  • Database triggers
  • How views are created, used, and updated in relational databases
  • Authorization in relational databases
  • Star schemas, the data cube concept, and on-line analytical processing (olap) features in relational databases including the cube and rollup operators
  • The sql standard for queries over recursively-defined relations
  • Relational algebra – the algebraic query language that provides the formal foundations of sql
  • Dependency theory and normal forms in relational databases as the basis of schema design
  • The data-modeling component of the unified modeling language (uml), how uml diagrams are translated to relations
  • The xml model for semistructured and self-describing data, including dtds and some features of xml schema
  • The json model for human-readable structured or semistructured data
  • The xpath language for processing xml data, and many features of the more advanced xquery language
  • An introduction to the xslt rule-based language for querying and transforming xml data

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Assumed background knowledge in Computer Science and Database Systems
Comprehensive coverage of SQL, the industry standard for relational databases
Focus on building a strong foundation in relational database concepts
Interactive exercises and quizzes to enhance learning
Taught by Jennifer Widom, an experienced professor in the field
Provides a solid understanding of data modeling and database design

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Databases: Semistructured Data with these activities:
Read 'Database Systems: The Complete Book' by Garcia-Molina and Ullman
Provides a comprehensive overview of database systems, complementing the course material and deepening your understanding.
Show steps
  • Read through the chapters relevant to the course topics
  • Take notes and summarize key concepts
  • Complete the end-of-chapter exercises
Review Database Management Concepts
Solidifies foundational knowledge of database management concepts, preparing you for a smoother learning experience in the course.
Show steps
  • Review lecture notes and textbooks from previous database courses
  • Complete online quizzes and exercises on basic database concepts
  • Practice writing simple SQL queries
Assist Peers in Database Concepts
Strengthens your understanding of database concepts by explaining them to others and fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Browse courses on Mentoring
Show steps
  • Join online forums or study groups related to databases
  • Identify opportunities to answer questions and provide guidance to fellow learners
  • Create your own study materials or resources to support your peers
Five other activities
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Show all eight activities
Explore Advanced SQL Features
Enhances your understanding of SQL's capabilities, enabling you to tackle more complex database tasks.
Browse courses on Advanced SQL
Show steps
  • Find online tutorials on advanced SQL features
  • Follow along with the tutorials, practicing the concepts
  • Apply the learned techniques to sample databases
Solve Database Design Problems
Sharpens your ability to design efficient and effective databases, a crucial skill for database professionals.
Browse courses on Database Design
Show steps
  • Find online resources or textbooks with database design problems
  • Attempt to solve the problems on your own
  • Check your solutions against provided answers or consult with experts
Develop a Database Project Proposal
Provides hands-on experience in planning and designing a database project, bridging the gap between theory and practice.
Browse courses on Project Planning
Show steps
  • Identify a real-world problem that can be addressed with a database
  • Define the project scope, objectives, and deliverables
  • Design the database schema and create a detailed plan for implementation
  • Write a project proposal outlining your plan
Contribute to Open-Source Database Projects
Enhances your practical skills and contributes to the broader database community, fostering professional growth and collaboration.
Browse courses on Database Development
Show steps
  • Identify open-source database projects aligned with your interests
  • Review the project documentation and contribute bug fixes or feature enhancements
  • Engage with the project community through forums or mailing lists
Design a Database for a Real-World Scenario
Provides a comprehensive and practical project that integrates the knowledge and skills acquired in the course, showcasing your abilities to design, implement, and evaluate a database solution.
Browse courses on Database Design
Show steps
  • Identify a business or personal scenario that requires a database solution
  • Develop a detailed requirements document outlining the data entities, relationships, and functional needs
  • Design and implement the database schema in a suitable DBMS
  • Create sample data and test the database functionality
  • Write a report summarizing your design decisions and the outcome of the project

Career center

Learners who complete Databases: Semistructured Data will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Data Scientist
Data Scientists are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting large amounts of data to help businesses make informed decisions. This course can help build a foundation for a career as a Data Scientist by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data. The course also covers topics such as data modeling, theory, and OLAP, which are all essential for Data Scientists.
Database Administrator
Database Administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining databases, ensuring that they are available, secure, and performant. This course can help build a foundation for a career as a Database Administrator by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data. The course also covers topics such as database design, performance tuning, and security, which are all essential for Database Administrators.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. This course can help build a foundation for a career as a Software Engineer by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data. The course also covers topics such as data modeling, theory, and OLAP, which are all essential for Software Engineers who work with data.
Data Analyst
Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to help businesses make informed decisions. This course can help build a foundation for a career as a Data Analyst by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data. The course also covers topics such as data modeling, theory, and OLAP, which are all essential for Data Analysts.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing business processes and identifying opportunities for improvement. This course can help build a foundation for a career as a Business Analyst by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data. The course also covers topics such as data modeling, theory, and OLAP, which are all essential for Business Analysts who work with data.
Information Architect
Information Architects are responsible for designing and managing the structure and organization of information within an organization. This course can help build a foundation for a career as an Information Architect by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data. The course also covers topics such as data modeling, theory, and OLAP, which are all essential for Information Architects.
Data Engineer
Data Engineers are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the infrastructure that supports data storage and processing. This course may be useful for building a foundation for a career as a Data Engineer by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data. The course also covers topics such as data modeling, theory, and OLAP, which are all essential for Data Engineers who work with data.
Database Designer
Database Designers are responsible for designing and developing the structure of databases. This course may be useful for building a foundation for a career as a Database Designer by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data. The course also covers topics such as data modeling, theory, and OLAP, which are all essential for Database Designers.
Web Developer
Web Developers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining websites. This course may be useful for building a foundation for a career as a Web Developer by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data. The course also covers topics such as data modeling, theory, and OLAP, which are all essential for Web Developers who work with data.
Systems Analyst
Systems Analysts are responsible for analyzing and designing computer systems. This course may be useful for building a foundation for a career as a Systems Analyst by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data. The course also covers topics such as data modeling, theory, and OLAP, which are all essential for Systems Analysts who work with data.
Software Tester
Software Testers are responsible for testing software to ensure that it meets requirements and is free of defects. This course may be useful for building a foundation for a career as a Software Tester by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers are responsible for writing documentation for software and other technical products. This course may be useful for building a foundation for a career as a Technical Writer by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data.
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for managing the development and launch of new products. This course may be useful for building a foundation for a career as a Product Manager by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data.
Project Manager
Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course may be useful for building a foundation for a career as a Project Manager by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data.
Business Development Manager
Business Development Managers are responsible for generating new business for a company. This course may be useful for building a foundation for a career as a Business Development Manager by providing a comprehensive overview of databases, including relational databases and SQL, as well as semistructured data.

Reading list

We've selected eight books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Databases: Semistructured Data.
This comprehensive textbook covers all aspects of database systems, from the basics to advanced topics such as data mining and cloud computing. It valuable resource for both students and practitioners.
This classic textbook must-read for anyone who wants to understand the foundations of database systems. It challenging book, but it is well worth the effort.
This comprehensive guide to XSLT covers all of the advanced features of the language. It valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to learn more about XSLT.
Provides a comprehensive overview of data warehousing. It valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to learn more about this important topic.
Provides a comprehensive overview of Spark. It valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to learn more about this important technology.
This beginner-friendly guide to XML great way to learn the basics of the language. It good choice for students who are new to semistructured data.

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