The major change is the early introduction of the ER model, together with a discussion of conceptual database design. As in the first edition, we introduce SQL-92’s data definition features together with the relational model (in Chapter 3), and whenever appropriate, relational model concepts (e.g., definition of a relation, updates, views, ER to relational mapping) are illustrated and discussed in the context of SQL. Of course, we maintain a careful separation between the concepts and their SQL realization. The material on data storage, file organization, and indexes has been moved back, and the material on relational queries has been moved forward. Nonetheless, the two parts (storage and organization vs.~queries) can still be taught in either order based on the instructor’s preferences.

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