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Product Description
The Seventh Edition continues to focus on the hallmark feature of its previous editions: providing a solid grounding in the foundations of database technology and shedding some light on how the field is likely to develop in the future. This comprehensive introduction to databases has been thoroughly revised to reflect the latest developments and advances in the field of database systems. Emphasizing insight and understanding rather than formalism, Chris Date has divided the book into six parts: Basic Concepts, The Relational Model, Database Design, Transaction Management, Further Topics, and Object and Object/Relational Databases. Throughout the book, there are numerous worked examples and exercises for the reader--with selected answers--as well as an extensive set of annotated references. The release of this new edition of An Introduction to Database Systems coincides with the 25th Anniversary of its initial publication.
Amazon.com Review
The newest edition of the classic An Introduction to Database Systems incorporates the latest developments in relational databases, including semantic modeling, decision support, and temporal modeling. There's better information on distributed databases, security, and the mathematics of relational databases too. With the same strong coverage of fundamental theory that made its predecessors stand out, this book ranks as the definitive textbook for those studying database systems.
This is an extraordinarily academic book. In his preface, C.J. Date goes so far as to lament having to use Structured Query Language (SQL) in some of his examples because it's "so far from being a true embodiment of relational principles." What's more, he writes in a very academic style, peppering his heavily footnoted prose with mathematical expressions and words like relevar and tuple. The academic style and highbrow language isn't a bad thing, since this book deals with complicated, largely abstract phenomena in depth. Be aware that An Introduction to Database Systems is a far cry from the highly graphical, problem-focused books that target the community of commercial database developers, and as such requires more careful study. This book is about theories, concepts, and ideals rather than problems, solutions, and specific implementations. Per se, it will enable you to become a better database programmer--but only if you supplement it with practical guides and hands-on experience. --David Wall
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