Question

Discuss the types of modifications that may be applied to the logical database design of a relational database.

Short answer

Changes in logical database design include normalization (removing redundancy), denormalization (combining tables), assuring data integrity, and performance tuning (boosting performance through setting indexes, partitioning, etc).

Step-by-step solution

Define Logical Database Design

Logical Database design is the process of constructing a model of the data used in an enterprise, independent of all physical considerations. It's basically a representation of data, structured in such a way that it does not depend on the DBMS system.

Explain Relational Database

A relational database is a type of database that uses a structure that allows us to identify and access data in relation to other pieces of data in the database. Tables are used to hold information about the objects to be represented in the database.

Discuss Types of Modifications

The modifications in logical database design involve: 1. Normalization: This is a process that eliminates redundant data from relational databases. It improves data integrity by having a single point of maintenance. 2. Denormalization: The process involves blending tables to speed up data retrieval in a relational database. It is done after normalization and helps to boost performance. 3. Data Integrity: It ensures that the data remains accurate and consistent over its entire life-cycle. This can include using constraints, triggers etc. 4. Performance tuning: This can be a modification made to increase the database's performance. It includes creating indexes, partitioning, data compression etc.