INST 326 Module 9

Topics

This module looks at ways to integrate Python programs with databases and SQL (Structured Query Language). SQL is an ISO/ANSI standard for creating relational databases, and there are a number of widely used implementations, both commercial (e.g. Oracle) and open source (e.g. MariaDB).

Learning Outcomes

After completing this module, students should understand:

• How to use the sqlite3 module to connect to a database
• How to load data to the database
• How to query the database
• The basics of CRUD operations

Readings

• Severance, Python for Everybody, Chapter 15: “Using Databases and SQL”
• Python documentation for sqlite3

Additional Readings (optional, as needed)

Historical Background

• Codd, E. F. (1970). “A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks,” Communications of the ACM 13.6, 377-87.

Python Resources

• PEP 249: Python Database API Specification, v2.0]
• Tutorials (all of these cover much the same ground):
  • https://www.pythoncentral.io/introduction-to-sqlite-in-python
  • https://sebastianraschka.com/Articles/2014_sqlite_in_python_tutorial.html
  • http://www.sqlitetutorial.net/sqlite-python

Database Resources

• MariaDB, a community fork of MySQL
• PostgreSQL
• Overview of Python on NoSQL (i.e. non-relational) databases

Links

• Slides
• Exercises