Database System Concepts – Abraham Silberschatz, H. Korth, S. Sudarshan – 4th Edition

Database management has evolved from a specialized computer application to a central component of a modern computing environment, and, as a result, knowledge about database systems has become an essential part of an education in computer science. In this text, we present the fundamental concepts of database management. These concepts include aspects of database design, database languages, and database-system implementation.

The fundamental concepts and algorithms covered in Database System Concepts 4th ed, are often based on those used in existing commercial or experimental database systems. Our aim is to present these concepts and algorithms in a general setting that is not tied to one particular database system. Details of particular commercial database systems are discussed in Part 8, “Case Studies.”

In this fourth edition of Database System Concepts, we have retained the overall style of the first three editions, while addressing the evolution of database management. Several new chapters have been added to cover new technologies. Every chapter has been edited, and most have been modified extensively. We shall describe the changes in detail shortly.

This text is intended for a first course in databases at the junior or senior undergraduate, or first-year graduate level. Database System Concepts, 4th ed. offers a complete background in the basics of database design, languages, and system implementations. Concepts are presented using intuitive descriptions, and important theoretical results are covered, but formal proofs are omitted.