DATABASES

What is a database?

"Data organized in a smart way."

Data is ordered or sorted based on a key.  You specify the key, and the database will return the record associated with the key.  You can also add or remove items into or from the database.  Not all parts (fields) of a record need be part of a key.  "Usually" keys are unique, meaning if your key is, say, and ID#, you won't have more than one record for any given ID#.

Databases are used heavily in all aspects of computing.

One of the most common kinds of databases are the SQL databases.

SQL databases are probably the most important sort of databases to learn.