Introduction

This book contains an introduction to the theory and practice of database systems. It focuses mainly on topics related to design and proceeds to cover implementation and management of databases. Its main feature is the presentation of many solved examples and exercises that we believe will help in understanding and assimilating the concepts.

The material of the book is intended for an introductory semester course on databases for undergraduate programs in science and social sciences. It has already been used and tested in teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Greece and abroad for the last fifteen years.

Our goal is to further enrich this material both in theoretical and practical level, while we believe that in its current form this book will help you understand the basic concepts and issues related to the field of Databases. We also hope that it will bring you closer to the very interesting and timeless subject of data management that database systems have been serving for the last fifty years!

Vasileios S. Verykios
Associate Professor HOU
Patras, May 2014