Foundations of Database Management

Master PostgreSQL, SQL, and Modern Database Design Through Hands-On Learning

Every modern application depends on a database. Whether you're building web applications, cloud services, business systems, or AI-powered solutions, understanding relational databases is one of the most valuable technical skills you can develop.

Foundations of Database Management is a practical, beginner-friendly guide that teaches you how to design, build, query, secure, and optimize relational databases using PostgreSQL, one of the world's leading open-source database management systems. Designed for aspiring software developers, IT professionals, database administrators, and students, this book emphasizes learning by doing through real-world examples and hands-on practice.

Unlike many database books that focus primarily on theory, this book helps you develop practical skills you can immediately apply to your own projects and career. You'll progress from the fundamentals of relational databases to advanced SQL querying, performance optimization, security, backup strategies, and database administration before completing a comprehensive capstone project.

FREE Companion Online Course and Hands-On Labs

Your purchase includes free access to the companion online video course and interactive hands-on labs from Destin Learning.

Watch each lesson as it's taught, then reinforce your knowledge by completing guided PostgreSQL labs in a live development environment. The online course allows you to learn at your own pace while gaining real experience creating databases, writing SQL queries, designing schemas, and administering PostgreSQL systems.

Inside This Book You'll Learn

• Database fundamentals and the relational model
• Installing and configuring PostgreSQL
• PostgreSQL architecture, schemas, and roles
• Creating tables and selecting appropriate data types
• Primary keys, foreign keys, and database relationships
• Database design using Entity-Relationship Diagrams (ERDs)
• Database normalization and best design practices
• Writing SQL queries with SELECT, WHERE, GROUP BY, and JOIN
• Advanced SQL using subqueries, Common Table Expressions (CTEs), and window functions
• Modifying data with INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and transactions
• ACID properties and concurrency control
• Indexes, query optimization, and performance tuning
• Backup, recovery, users, permissions, and database security
• Building a complete PostgreSQL database project from design through implementation

This Book Is Perfect For

• Beginning software developers
• Computer science and IT students
• Database administrators
• Cloud engineers
• DevOps professionals
• System administrators
• Anyone learning SQL or PostgreSQL
• Professionals preparing for technical interviews or certification

No previous database experience is required.

Learn by Building Real Databases

Knowledge becomes valuable when you apply it. Throughout this book you'll complete practical exercises and guided labs that reinforce every major concept. By the end of the course you'll have designed, implemented, and documented a complete relational database while developing skills used every day by professional software developers and database administrators.

Whether you're launching a new career, strengthening your technical foundation, or expanding your software development skills, Foundations of Database Management provides the knowledge, practical experience, and confidence to work with modern relational databases.

Read it. Watch it. Practice it. Build it.

Start your journey into professional database development today with Foundations of Database Management from Destin Learning.