A relational database is a database based on the relational model. Strictly speaking the term refers to a specific collection of data but it is often used synonymously with the software that is used to manage that collection of data. That software is more correctly called a relational database management system, or RDBMS.

See also

• Database management system (DBMS)
• Entity relationship diagram (ERD)
• Flat file database

External links

• A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks: By E. F. Codd
• Relational Database Principles by Colin Ritche . ISBN 0826457134 This is Very Helpful for courses where databases are a course module.