Databases Intermediate

What is Migration?

A version-controlled change to a database schema that can be applied and reversed systematically.

Database migrations track schema changes over time, similar to version control for code. Each migration defines an "up" (apply) and "down" (revert) operation, such as creating tables, adding columns, or modifying constraints.

Migrations ensure all environments (development, staging, production) have identical database schemas. They are run in sequence and tracked to prevent re-application. Tools include Flyway, Liquibase, Alembic, and framework-specific migration systems.

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Database Constraint

Rules enforced by the database to maintain data integrity, including NOT NULL, UNIQUE, CHECK, PRIMARY KEY, and FOREIGN KEY.

Materialized View

A database object that stores the precomputed result of a query, offering faster reads at the cost of periodic refresh.

A database command that shows how the query planner will execute a SQL query, revealing join methods, scan types, and estimated costs.

Connection Pool

A cache of database connections that can be reused, avoiding the overhead of creating new connections for each request.

The process of organizing database tables to reduce data redundancy and improve data integrity.

A category of databases that store data in non-tabular formats, optimized for specific data models and access patterns.

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