CIW Database Design Specialist Practice Test 2026 - Free Database Design Practice Questions and Study Guide

The primary components of a relational database are tables and schemas.

Tables are the fundamental building blocks of a relational database. Each table consists of rows (records) and columns (attributes), where each column has a defined data type and represents a specific piece of information about the entity described by the table. For example, in a table representing customers, each row would represent a different customer, while the columns would contain details such as customer ID, name, and contact information.

Schemas, on the other hand, define the organization and structure of the database as a whole. A schema outlines how tables relate to each other, the constraints on the data, and the overall layout of the database. This serves as a blueprint that provides clarity on how different pieces of data are connected and how they can be retrieved and manipulated.

In contrast, entities and relationships represent conceptual components rather than the actual physical structure of a relational database. Columns and views are specific aspects of tables and data presentation, respectively, but they don't encompass the foundational concept of what makes a database relational. Files and documents pertain more to file systems and other forms of data storage, which are not inherent to the relational database model.