Relational Databases with NocoDB: Key Points

Introduction

Spreadsheets are flexible and easy to use for organizing and analyzing data, but become error-prone and hard to manage as data grows or relationships get complex.
Relational databases store data in multiple related tables, reducing redundancy and ensuring data integrity through primary and foreign keys.
Databases are better suited for managing complex, interconnected data and support powerful queries using SQL.
No-code tools like NocoDB combine the user-friendly interface of spreadsheets with the structure and reliability of relational databases.
Choosing the right tool depends on your needs: spreadsheets for simpler, flexible tasks; databases for structured, scalable, and collaborative work

The primary key uniquely identifies each record and must never be empty.
A foreign key links to an existing primary key in another table, creating relationships between tables.
Keys help reduce data redundancy and ensure data integrity by connecting related information.
Normalization (1NF, 2NF, 3NF) step-by-step removes redundancy, prevents anomalies, and organizes data efficiently.
Splitting data into multiple related tables makes updates, deletions, and extensions safer and easier.

In NocoDB, you create tables and add fields (columns) with different data types (e.g., text, number, date).
Fields of type Link allow you to connect tables and create relationships between records.
When adding a Link field, you can choose the relation type: One to One, One to Many (Has Many), or Many to Many.

After importing a CSV file, review and adjust the field types for each column to ensure correct data handling.
Use Filters to display only records that match specific conditions, making it easier to focus on relevant data.
Grouping allows you to organize records by a chosen field, helping you spot patterns and compare categories.
Sorting lets you change the order of records, for example by year or artist, to better analyze your data.
Proper field types and data preparation are essential for efficient filtering, grouping, and sorting in NocoDB.

NocoDB offers different view types (Grid, Form, Gallery, Kanban, Calendar) to display and interact with your data in various ways.
Each view can be customized with its own filters, sorting, and visible fields, allowing you to focus on specific aspects of your data.
Views help you collaborate, collect input, and share selected information without changing the underlying table structure.
Specialized views like Kanban and Calendar require specific field types (e.g., Single Select for Kanban, Date for Calendar) for optimal use.
Using multiple views makes it easier to adapt the same dataset for different tasks and

NocoDB allows you to invite team members and assign different roles (Owner, Creator, Editor, Commenter, Viewer) to control access and permissions.
You can share your Base as a read-only link, letting others view and explore data without being able to edit or delete anything.
Roles help keep your data secure and your workflow organized by giving each person only the rights they need.
Public sharing is useful for publishing datasets or enabling transparent collaboration without requiring user accounts.
Collaboration features make it easy to work together on data projects, whether in a team or with the public.

NocoDB automatically provides a REST API for every table, allowing you to read, create, update, and delete records from external applications.
The built-in Swagger UI lets you explore, test, and interact with the API directly in your browser—no coding required.
API requests can be filtered and customized using parameters, making it easy to retrieve exactly the data you need.
Access to the API is secured with API tokens, ensuring only authorized users can interact with your data.
Webhooks let NocoDB actively send data to other apps or services when certain events occur, enabling automation and integration.