DATABASE-DESIGN.AV1
Database Design Using Entity-Relationship Diagrams
Real database designers don’t just wing it. They plan with ER diagrams…learn how, and make your work indispensable.
- Practice in 15 Hands-On Labs — nothing to install
- 13 Interactive Lessons and 126 topics mapped to the official exam objectives
- 276 Practice Test Questions
Beginner Self-paced · 1 year access
15 Hands-On LiveLabs
Practice real IT tasks in guided environments.
- Real environments
- Auto-graded
- No installation
13Interactive Lessons
126Topics
15LiveLab
276Practice Test Questions
4Videos
130Flashcards
130Glossary of terms
01 / Skills you'll get
What you will be able to do
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Enroll in our database design course to transform chaotic data into structured, high-performance systems.
In this course, dive into entity-relationship diagrams (ERD) to model databases like a professional. It covers everything from basic concepts to advanced techniques like Enhanced ER (EER) and reverse engineering. Learn to map ERDs to relational databases, enforce normalization rules, and optimize designs for real-world applications.
- Data Modeling with ER Diagrams: Master the fundamentals of entity-relationship modeling to visually represent database structures.
- Relational Database Mapping: Learn to accurately convert ER diagrams into optimized relational database schemas.
- Normalization Techniques: Apply 1NF through Boyce-Codd Normal Form to eliminate data redundancy and anomalies.
- Enhanced Entity-Relationship (EER) Modeling: Develop advanced diagrams with specialization/generalization, categories, and union types.
- Reverse Engineering of Databases: Acquire techniques to extract ER models from existing relational databases.
- Database Design Documentation: Create clear, user-friendly specifications and grammars for database implementations.
Course Highlights
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13 Structured Lessons Comprehensive coverage of core course objectives
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15 Hands-On LiveLabs Interactive guided scenarios with instant evaluation
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276 Practice Questions Assessment tests with detailed answer rationales
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1 Year Full Access Self-paced learning accessible anytime on all devices
02 / Lessons & labs
See exactly what you will learn and practice
Lessons
13 Interactive Lessons · 126 topics01 Introduction 2 topics +
- The ER Models We Chose
- Course Highlights
02 Data, Databases, and the Software Engineering Process 7 topics · 1 LiveLab +
- Introduction
- Data
- Building a Database
- What Is The Software Engineering Process?
- Entity-Relationship Diagrams and the Software Engineering Life Cycle
- Lesson Summary
- Exercises
1 LiveLab in this lesson — see the labs panel →
03 Data and Data Models 7 topics · 1 LiveLab +
- Introduction
- Files, Records, And Data Items
- Moving From 3 × 5 Cards to Computers
- Database Models
- The Network Model
- The Relational Model
- Lesson Summary
1 LiveLab in this lesson — see the labs panel →
04 The Relational Model and Functional Dependencies 12 topics · 4 LiveLab +
- Introduction
- Fundamentals of Relational Database
- Relational Database and Sets
- Functional Dependency
- Non-1NF To 1NF
- The Second Normal Form
- The Third Normal Form
- The Equijoin Operation
- Some Functional Dependency Rules
- The Boyce–Codd Normal Form
- Lesson Summary
- Exercises
4 LiveLab in this lesson — see the labs panel →
05 The Basic ER Diagram: A Data Modeling Schema 10 topics · 1 LiveLab +
- Introduction
- What Is a Data Modeling Schema?
- Defining a Database—Some Definitions: Entity, Relationship, and Attribute
- A First “Entity-Only” ER Diagram: An Entity with Attributes
- More about Attributes
- English Description of the Entity
- Mapping the Entity Diagram to a Relational Database
- Lesson Summary
- Exercises
- Case Study
1 LiveLab in this lesson — see the labs panel →
06 Beyond the First Entity Diagram 10 topics · 1 LiveLab +
- Introduction
- Examining an Entity: Changing an Attribute to Be an Entity
- Defining a Relationship for Our New Entity
- A Preliminary Grammar for ER Diagrams
- Defining a Second Entity
- Does a Relationship Exist?
- Attribute or Relationship?
- Lesson Summary
- Exercises
- Case Study
1 LiveLab in this lesson — see the labs panel →
07 Extending Relationships/Structural Constraints 11 topics · 1 LiveLab +
- Introduction
- The Cardinality Ratio of a Relationship
- Participation: Full/Partial
- English Descriptions
- Tighter English
- Some Examples of Other Relationships
- One Final Example
- Mapping Relationships to a Relational Database
- Lesson Summary
- Exercises
- Case Study
1 LiveLab in this lesson — see the labs panel →
08 The Weak Entity 11 topics · 1 LiveLab +
- Introduction
- Strong and Weak Entities
- Weak Entities and Structural Constraints
- Weak Entities and the Identifying Owner
- Weak Entities Connected to Other Weak Entities
- Revisiting the Methodology
- Weak Entity Grammar
- Mapping Weak Entities to a Relational Database
- Lesson Summary
- Exercises
- Case Study
1 LiveLab in this lesson — see the labs panel →
09 Further Extensions for ER Diagrams with Binary Relationships 15 topics · 1 LiveLab +
- Introduction
- Attributes of Relationships
- Relationships Developing into Entities: The M:N Relationship Revisited
- More Entities and Relationships
- More Evolution of the Database
- Attributes That Evolve into Entities
- Recursive Relationships
- Multiple Relationships
- The Derived or Redundant Relationship
- Optional: An Alternative ER Notation for Specifying Structural Constraints on Relationships
- Review of the Methodology
- Mapping Rules for Recursive Relationships
- Lesson Summary
- Exercises
- Case Study
1 LiveLab in this lesson — see the labs panel →
10 Ternary and Higher-Order ER Diagrams 12 topics · 1 LiveLab +
- Introduction
- Binary or Ternary Relationship?
- Structural Constraints for Ternary Relationships
- An Example of an n-ary Relationship
- n-ary Relationships Do Not Preclude Binary Relationships
- Methodology and Grammar for the n-ary Relationship
- Ternary Relationships From Relationship-Relationship Situations
- n-ary Relationships That May Be Resolved into Binary Relationships
- Mapping n-ary Relationships to a Relational Database
- Review of the Methodology
- Lesson Summary
- Exercises
1 LiveLab in this lesson — see the labs panel →
11 The Enhanced Entity-Relationship (EER) Model 12 topics · 1 LiveLab +
- Introduction
- What Is a Generalization or Specialization?
- Variants
- Examples of Generalizations or Specializations
- Methodology and Grammar for Generalization/Specialization Relationships
- Mapping Rules for Generalizations and Specializations
- Subclasses of Subclasses
- Categories or Union Types
- Final ER Design Methodology
- Lesson Summary
- Exercises
- Case Study
1 LiveLab in this lesson — see the labs panel →
12 Relational Mapping and Reverse Engineering ER/EER Diagrams 5 topics · 1 LiveLab +
- Introduction
- Steps Used to Map ER/EER Diagrams to Relational Databases
- Reverse Engineering
- Lesson Summary
- Exercises
1 LiveLab in this lesson — see the labs panel →
13 A Brief Overview of the Barker/Oracle-Like Model 12 topics · 1 LiveLab +
- Introduction
- A First “Entity-Only” ER Diagram: An Entity with Attributes
- Attributes in the Barker/Oracle-Like Model
- Relationships in the Barker/Oracle-Like Model
- Structural Constraints in the Barker/Oracle-Like Model
- Dealing with the Concept of the Weak Entity in the Barker/Oracle-Like Model
- Dealing with the Concept of Multivalued Attributes in the Barker/Oracle-Like Model
- Treatment of Foreign Keys
- Recursive Relationships in the Barker/Oracle-Like Model
- Mapping M:N Relationships
- Lesson Summary
- Exercises
1 LiveLab in this lesson — see the labs panel →
Hands-On Labs Our edge
15 LiveLabs- Revisiting Database Design: A Study Session in Conversation
- Understanding Data and Data Models
- Normalizing the Unnormalized Model to 1st Normal Form
- Normalizing the 1st Normal Form to 2nd Normal Form
- Normalizing the 2nd Normal Form to 3rd Normal Form
- Normalizing the 3rd Normal Form to BCNF
- Creating a Physical Data Model ERD
- Creating a Basic Chen-Notation ERD
- Understanding Structural Constraints and Relationship Mapping in ER Modeling
- Creating a Chen-Notation ERD
- Exploring Advanced ER Modeling Concepts and Methodology Enhancements
- Modeling Complex Relationships in ER Design
- Enhancing EER Modeling in Modern Database Design
- Creating a Complex Chen-Notation ERD
- Creating a Barker ERD Using the Crow’s Foot Notation
Labs run in your browser — nothing to install.
03 / FAQs
Questions before you start
How to create an entity relationship diagram for a database?+
Take this entity relationship diagram course for database designers to learn step-by-step:
- Identify entities (tables), attributes (columns), and relationships (connections).
- Define primary keys and cardinality (one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many).
- Use tools like Lucidchart, draw.io, or ERDPlus for visualization.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the ER model in DBMS?+
Our database design course discusses these key points:
- Advantages: Easy to understand, visualizes data structure, improves communication.
- Disadvantages: Limited for complex constraints, not ideal for NoSQL databases.
Is a flowchart and ER diagram the same?+
No. A flowchart shows processes, while an ER diagram maps database structure (entities, relationships). Take our ER diagram course to learn database modeling to master the difference.
How to explain an ER diagram in a presentation?+
When you learn database modeling, follow this approach:
- Start with entities (e.g., "Customer," "Order").
- Show relationships (e.g., "A Customer places an Order").
- Highlight key constraints (e.g., "One customer can have many orders").
Which software is used to draw an ER diagram?+
In entity relationship model training, you’ll use:
- Free tools: draw.io, ERDPlus, MySQL Workbench.
- Profsssional tools: Lucidchart, Microsoft Visio, IBM Data Architect.
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