Inside these pages you'll find an expert analysis of the technology that makes it possible to create today's mission-critical database applications. World-renowned computer professionals James Martin and Joe Leben combine their considerable expertise to bring you all the information you need to effectively use the right database software package to solve your business problems - even if you have little or no experience using database software. Clear, detailed coverage takes you all the way from the practical fundamentals of modern database technology through to the use of distributed databases in networked computing systems. The authors introduce the database software environment, explain the ideas behind data modeling and normalization, examine client/server database techniques, and introduce the relational data model and Structured Query Language (SQL).