What is CRUD?

Introduction to Interacting with Databases for Beginners

If you're just starting to explore the world of databases and software development, you might have come across the term CRUD. This is an acronym that stands for Create, Read, Update, and Delete – four fundamental operations for working with data in various database management systems (DBMS). In this chapter, we will delve into the basics of CRUD and its role in data management.

CRUD

CRUD represents the following four essential operations for data interaction in any database:

• 🔨 Create: These operations involve adding new records or rows to a database table. For instance, when developing an application, you can use the Create operation to add new users to your database by specifying data such as names, email addresses, and passwords;
• 📖 Read: These operations are about retrieving information from the database. You can use this operation to query the database or select specific records based on particular conditions. For example, it's handy for fetching lists of users, products, or any data of interest from your database;
• 🔄 Update: These operations are all about modifying existing data in the database. This entails specifying which data you wish to update and providing new values for those pieces of information. You could use this operation to change a user's address or update other crucial details;
• 🗑 Delete: These operations involve removing records or data from the database. It allows you to specify what data to delete, and the database system will remove it accordingly. For example, you can use the Delete operation to remove a user's account when it is no longer needed.

CRUD in Development

CRUD is a critical concept for developers as it forms the foundation for building more complex applications. Many software programs are created to store and manipulate data, and CRUD provides the tools to accomplish these tasks.

In development, you will use programming languages and frameworks to create applications that employ CRUD operations to interact with databases. For instance, you might use the Python programming language and the Django framework or Flask framework to build web applications that enable users to CREATE, READ, UPDATE, and DELETE data.