这本书目的是给读者提供一个关系型数据库模型领域的背景。这是一本易读的和有实践练习的书。-Relational databases provide a powerful means by which to store and manipulate vast

volumes of data. The design of such systems is based on the mathematics of relational theory,

which was advanced in its initial stages by E. F. Codd. This mathematical basis has meant that

many of the standard database design titles aren’t easily accessible to many would-be modelers

who want to know how to practically implement the theories they read about. This book

focuses on giving the reader a background in the field of relational data modeling. The final

physical implementation of these designs is beyond the scope of this book (it merits a title of

its own), thanks to the complexities that can result in performance tuning a database application.

The aim of this book is to provide a practical guide to the what and how of data modeling

in a day-to-day, task-oriented way, rather than from a purely theoretical viewpoint. It has been

more than 40 years since Codd’s initial work, and yet we’re