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Reviewer: Elizabeth Ann Buschlen Unger

This is a revision of Date's textbook for undergraduate courses in databases and database management systems. It is not intended or structured as a reference book on databases. However, working professionals who wish to learn about the fundamentals of database systems can use this book. This seventh edition is an improvement over previous editions, in that the author is moving away from an SQL-based approach to the teaching of the principles of relational systems. The universal nature of the relational model in understanding the structuring of data for the traditional hierarchical and network models and for the evolving object-oriented systems is stressed more than in previous editions. The book consists of six major parts: an overview of databases and database management, with an introduction to classic SQL; coverage of the relational model, with more emphasis on the foundations, including some theory associated with that model; design; transaction management; pragmatic issues; and, finally, object-oriented and object/relational systems. Part 6 contains a good overview of SQL3. Each chapter has an extensive list of appropriate references for the interested reader and a set of increasingly difficult exercises. The section on design bases all database design on the principles of ascertaining entities using the functional dependencies. Boyce-Codd normal form is the result of this important design principle. The multivalued dependency is introduced, and a conservative approach to the use of these with the entities to produce entity-relationship forms is presented. This part includes denormalization, a necessary step to create real databases. The pragmatic issues include security, optimization, type inheritance, temporal data systems, logic-based systems, distributed systems, and missing information. The book is exceedingly well written and, like the previous editions, will teach very well. Readers should have a fundamental understanding of data storage and file management systems. The book requires an understanding of a high-level algorithmic programming language, but assumes no knowledge of databases or of relational systems. The use of SQL as the vehicle to teach relational theory is still prevalent, perhaps more so than many theorists would like, but this approach has proven appropriate for undergraduates. This excellent textbook on database systems updates and improves on the previous editions. I recommended it for consideration by faculty and by those working in the field who need an introduction to or refresher on database systems.