Database Design Patterns

# Database Design Patterns Understanding common database design patterns is crucial for building efficient and maintainable applications. ## Common Patterns ### 1. Repository Pattern Encapsulates data access logic and provides a more object-oriented view of the persistence layer. ### 2. Active Record Objects carry both data and behavior, with methods for CRUD operations. ### 3. Data Mapper Separates in-memory objects from the database, allowing for more complex object models. ### 4. Unit of Work Maintains a list of objects affected by a business transaction and coordinates changes. ## Design Principles ### Normalization - Eliminate data redundancy - Organize data efficiently - Reduce storage requirements ### Indexing - Speed up query performance - Consider composite indexes - Balance read vs write performance ### Relationships - One-to-many - Many-to-many - One-to-one ## Performance Considerations 1. **Query Optimization**: Write efficient queries 2. **Caching**: Implement appropriate caching strategies 3. **Connection Pooling**: Manage database connections efficiently 4. **Partitioning**: For large datasets ## Best Practices - Plan your schema carefully - Use migrations for schema changes - Implement proper backup strategies - Monitor query performance - Consider read replicas for scaling Good database design is fundamental to application performance and maintainability.