Database Schema
Software Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A database schema is the structural definition of a database, including tables, columns, data types, indexes, and relationships. It serves as a blueprint for data organization and integrity.
Example in context
“The team reviewed the database schema to ensure all foreign key relationships were correctly defined before migration.”
“Ekip, geçişten önce tüm yabancı anahtar ilişkilerinin doğru tanımlandığından emin olmak için veritabanı şemasını inceledi.”
Where engineers use it
Database schemas are designed during the data modeling phase and are modified via DDL statements. Engineers must understand the schema to write correct queries and maintain data integrity.
Synonyms: data model, database structure
Practice: can you use “Database Schema” at work?
You are tasked with integrating a new module that requires storing historical data. Describe how you would modify the existing database schema to accommodate time-series data without breaking existing queries.
Show a model answer
“Let's update the database schema to include a new table for user preferences.”
“Database Schema” in 21 languages
| English | Database Schema |
|---|---|
| Turkish | veritabanı şeması |
| French | schéma de base de données |
| German | Datenbankschema |
| Spanish | esquema de base de datos |
| Chinese | 数据库模式 |
| Arabic | مخطط قاعدة البيانات |
| Portuguese | esquema de banco de dados |
| Russian | схема базы данных |
| Japanese | データベーススキーマ |
| Italian | schema del database |
| Vietnamese | lược đồ cơ sở dữ liệu |
| Hindi | डेटाबेस स्कीमा |
| Thai | โครงสร้างฐานข้อมูล |
| Indonesian | skema basis data |
| Korean | 데이터베이스 스키마 |
| Bengali | ডেটাবেস স্কিমা |
| Dutch | databaseschema |
| Swedish | databaseschema |
| Finnish | tietokantamalli |
| Ukrainian | схема бази даних |
Frequently asked questions
What does Database Schema mean in engineering?
A database schema is the structural definition of a database, including tables, columns, data types, indexes, and relationships. It serves as a blueprint for data organization and integrity. In Software Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Database Schema?
Database Schema is pronounced /ˈdeɪtəbeɪs skiːmə/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Database Schema used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The team reviewed the database schema to ensure all foreign key relationships were correctly defined before migration.”
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