Databases Intermediate

What is ORM (Object-Relational Mapping)?

A technique that lets you interact with a database using object-oriented code instead of writing raw SQL queries.

ORMs map database tables to classes and rows to objects, abstracting SQL behind a programmatic interface. Instead of writing "SELECT * FROM users WHERE id=1", you write User.find(1) or similar.

Popular ORMs include SQLAlchemy (Python), Eloquent (PHP/Laravel), ActiveRecord (Ruby), Hibernate (Java), and Prisma (JavaScript). ORMs improve productivity but can hide performance issues — knowing SQL remains important.

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The process of copying and maintaining database data across multiple servers for redundancy, failover, and read scaling.

Stored Procedure

A precompiled collection of SQL statements stored in the database that can be executed as a single unit.

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

A situation where two or more transactions permanently block each other by each holding locks that the other needs.

A set of four properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) that guarantee reliable database transactions.

A technique of dividing large database tables into smaller, more manageable segments while maintaining a single logical table.

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