How to properly design a database

heinz1218

General question: does anyone know of any good online articles about really basic info on designing a databse structure, as well as normalization? I've done some applications before but I really want to learn the proper way to plan out my site, including the relationships, etc. I'm obviously using PHP and MySQL.

Also, if anyone has found a particular book helpful.

Thanks.

Roger_Ramjet

There are some very good articles right here at phpbuilder

http://www.phpbuilder.com/columns/

heinz1218

Thanks for the link.

What I'm looking for is actually articles/books on database design. Basically how to draw out on paper the proper structure, how to map out what i want using symbols and etc., and then which fields should go where in which tables, and how I can reduce redunant data.

Thanks, Andrew

Roger_Ramjet

The seminal work was by E F Codd (IBM) in 1970-73, published in journals. He wrote the definative book on the subject in 1974 (title escapes me now). Google for his name and relational {database | calculus | algebra}.

Go down the library, to your technical bookstore, or search publishers like WROX and Sitepoint - there are hundreds of books out there: and lots of them are crap so go for a quality publisher like WROX (wrox.com).

What you are asking about is called Data Normalisation, and basic Structured Analysis and Design methods (SADM). Again google for them.

ATS16805

Mr Roger Ramjet,
This is MOST Excellent information. It would have saved me the embarrassment had i not mispelled a word in my search, and surprised at the lack of info on "relasdtional database", subsequently wrote a short-story describing a "situation" for which i want to structure my RDB.

all those in favor of making this a sticky, please say "Aye!"