In order to complete this course successfully, you should have knowledge of data modeling techniques related to relational database design. Specifically, you should be able to:

1. Explain relational database design concepts and terminology
2. Explain the difference between conceptual and physical models
3. Develop a conceptual design
4. Analyze user information requirements
5. Describe the entity/relationship modeling approach
6. Identify entities
7. Model relationships and identify attributes
8. Use primary and foreign keys

The next lesson outlines what you need to realize the full potential of this course.

There are numerous, precise explanations as to what exactly a

1. database model or
2. data model

is. A database model can be loosely used to describe an organized and ordered set of information stored on a computer.
This ordered set of data is often structured using a data modeling solution in such a way as to make the retrieval of and changes to that data more efficient. Depending on the type of applications using the database, the database structure can be modified to allow for efficient changes to that data. It is appropriate to discover how different database modeling techniques have developed over the past 50 years to accommodate efficiency, in terms of both data retrieval and data changes.