What is Database view?

In a relational database, a virtual table defined by giving a name to a SELECT statement. It normally holds no data of its own and builds its result from the underlying tables each time it is referenced. It is used to simplify complex queries and to restrict access by limiting the columns and rows shown.

Japanese name: ビュー

Database view appears in 1 practice question across 1 topic, including Database Basics.

Field: Database Basics

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Which correctly describes a database view in a relational database?

  1. AA virtual table defined by a SELECT statement; it normally holds no data of its own and builds its result from the underlying tables each time it is referenced
  2. BA table that stores a copy of the underlying table's data; changing the underlying table does not change the view's contents
  3. CA tree-structured piece of data created to find values in a particular column of a table quickly
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. A virtual table defined by a SELECT statement; it normally holds no data of its own and builds its result from the underlying tables each time it is referenced

A database view is a virtual table defined by giving a name to a SELECT statement, as in CREATE VIEW sales_staff AS SELECT emp_no, name FROM employee WHERE dept = 'Sales'. An ordinary view holds no data of its own; its result is built from the underlying (base) tables each time the view is referenced, so updates to the base tables are reflected in the view as they are. Views are used to make frequently used complex queries simple to write, and to limit what users can access by granting them privileges only on a view that shows the permitted columns and rows. There are also materialized views, which compute and store the result in advance; they make reads faster but must be refreshed to follow the base tables. A tree structure for finding values quickly describes an index.

Database view in the explanations

Questions that mention Database view (1)

  1. Which correctly describes a database view in a relational database?

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Related terms

Relational database Database index ACID properties E-R diagram Foreign key Isolation level Normalization NoSQL Primary key SQL

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