What is a flat-table database?

Answer 1

A flat-table database is one that uses a single table to store all relevant data.

By contrast, a relational database uses several tables to store relevant data, and then establishes 'relations' between them using unique identifiers ... such as primary keys and foreign keys.

Flat-table databases are ok if the data is not too complex or repetitive.

Relational databases are good when the data is complex and repetative.

For example: Keeping track of a personal music CD collection - if one is lazy - can simply be done in a flat-table database table (or a spread sheet). It can also be done in a relational database by creating a few tables and relating them. One table can be artist (with a primary key), another table can be album (relates to a single artist primary key), and a third can be a record label table (which can relate to many artist primary keys).

This is a very high-level view of the differences. I .

Answer 2

A flat-table database is a type of database model where data is stored in a simple tabular format without the use of complex relationships between tables. In a flat-table database, all data is stored in a single table without any hierarchical structure or normalization. This type of database is typically used for simple data storage and retrieval needs.