Relational databases use tables as the foundation for storing and organizing data. A table is a structured collection of related information, arranged in rows and columns, that represents a real-world entity such as students, courses, or enrollments. Each row in a table holds a single record, while each column defines a specific attribute or property of that record. The overall design and structure of tables in a database is known as the schema, which determines how data is organized, related, and accessed.

CREATE TABLE students (
    id INT PRIMARY KEY,
    name VARCHAR(100),
    email VARCHAR(100)
);

In the students table above, each column serves a specific purpose. The id column uniquely identifies each student and is often used as the primary key. The name column stores the full name of the student, while the email column holds the student's email address. Choosing the correct data type for each column is essential: INT for numeric identifiers and VARCHAR for text values. Data types ensure that only appropriate data can be stored in each column, helping maintain data integrity and consistency. By modeling tables after real-world entities and carefully selecting columns and data types, you create a clear and efficient structure for managing information in your database.

INSERT INTO students (id, name, email) VALUES
(1, 'Alice Johnson', 'alice.johnson@example.com'),
(2, 'Bob Smith', 'bob.smith@example.com'),
(3, 'Charlie Lee', 'charlie.lee@example.com');