Lesson 1 · Year 8 Databases

What is a Database?

You've just joined DataDrop as a junior data analyst. Your first job: understand how the platform stores all its music data.

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Learning Objectives

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Define key database terminology

Table, record, field, primary key, data type

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Explain why databases are better than spreadsheets

For large, complex, multi-user data

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Open and explore an Access database

Navigate Datasheet View, count records, identify fields

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Run pre-built queries and interpret results

Three queries at increasing difficulty

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Why Do Databases Exist?

Spotify has over 100 million songs in its library. Each song needs to store a title, artist, duration, streams, release date, and more. A spreadsheet would grind to a halt. A database handles it instantly — and lets millions of users search simultaneously.

Real-world databases you use: Spotify (songs/playlists), TikTok (videos/users), your school library system, the NHS patient database, DVLA vehicle records. Every major organisation runs on databases.

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Key Terminology

Learn the language of databases. These terms come up in every job in tech — and in your GCSE exam.

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Database Dictionary

Database

An organised collection of structured data, stored electronically and managed by software.

Table

A grid of rows and columns that stores data about one type of thing (e.g., Songs, Artists).

Record

One complete row in a table — all the data about a single item (e.g., one song).

Field

One column in a table — a single piece of information (e.g., Title, Genre, Streams).

Primary Key

A unique field that identifies each record. No two records can share a primary key (e.g., SongID).

Data Type

The kind of data a field holds — Text, Number, Date/Time, Yes/No, Currency, etc.

Query

A question asked of the database — returns only the records that match your criteria.

Flat-File Database

A simple database with only one table — all data in one place. Good for small datasets.

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The DataDrop Songs Table — Preview

This is what a small section of the Songs table looks like. Each row is a record. Each column is a field.

📊 Songs Table — DataDrop.accdb

SongID ⭐	Title	Artist	Genre	ReleaseYear	Streams
1	Neon Skyline	The Midnight	Synthpop	2021	2340000
2	Ocean Drive	Duke Dumont	Electronic	2014	5100000
3	Bad Habits	Ed Sheeran	Pop	2021	9800000
4	Blinding Lights	The Weeknd	Pop	2019	12000000
…	…	…	…	…	…

⭐ = Primary Key field (SongID is unique for every song)

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Quick Check — Fill In

Q1. What is a "record" in a database table?

Q2. Why is the SongID field a good primary key? Give two reasons.

Q3. Give one example of where a database is used in everyday life (not Spotify).

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Explore the DataDrop Database

Open the database your teacher has shared and investigate the Songs table. Answer each question below as you go.

📁 File to open: DataDrop_L1.accdb — ask your teacher where to find it. Open it in Microsoft Access and go to the Songs table in Datasheet View.

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Database Investigation

1

Count the records

Look at the navigation bar at the bottom of the table — how many records are in the Songs table?

2

List all the fields

Write down the name of every column (field) in the Songs table.

3

Identify the primary key

Which field is the primary key? How can you tell? (Hint: look for the key icon in Design View.)

4

Find the most streamed song

Scroll through the Streams field — which song has the highest stream count? What is the number?

5

Switch to Design View

Go to Home → View → Design View. List the data type for each field in the table below.

Field Name	Data Type (write it in)
SongID
Title
Genre
ReleaseYear
DurationMins
Streams
IsExplicit

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Running Queries

Queries let you ask questions of a database. Three queries have been pre-built for you. Run each one and record what you find.

How to run a query: In the left panel (Navigation Pane), look under "Queries". Double-click a query name to run it and see the results.

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Query 1 — "Q1 Pop Songs"

This query filters the Songs table to show only songs in the Pop genre.

a

Run the query

Double-click "Q1 Pop Songs" in the Navigation Pane.

b

Analyse the results

How many songs are in the Pop genre? List three song titles from the results.

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Query 2 — "Q2 High Streams"

Shows songs with over 5 million streams, sorted from most to least popular.

a

Run the query and note the results

Which song appears at the top (most streams)? What is its stream count?

b

Think about it

This query only shows three fields (Title, Artist, Streams). Why might an analyst choose to hide other fields in a query result?

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Query 3 — "Q3 Released 2021"

Filters songs released in 2021, sorted alphabetically by title.

a

Run the query

How many songs were released in 2021? Is "drivers license" by Olivia Rodrigo in the results?

b

Spot the pattern

Look at all three queries. What do they have in common? What is the purpose of a query in your own words?

🚀 Extension

Think Like a Developer

Spotify has over 100 million songs. If you ran "Q1 Pop Songs" on the real Spotify database, you might get 30 million results. Why would that still be useful — and what would you do next to narrow it down further? Write your thoughts below.

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Exit Quiz

Five quick questions to check what you've learned today. Answer in full sentences.

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Lesson 1 Check

1. What is the difference between a record and a field?

2. Why does the Songs table use a SongID field as the primary key, rather than using the Title?

3. What data type would you use to store the value "True" or "False"? Give an example of a field that would use this type.

4. The DurationMins field stores values like 3.7 and 4.2. Why is this stored as a Number rather than Text?

5. In your own words: what is a query, and why are they useful for a music streaming company?

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Export Your Answers

Download all your answers from every section as a text file — then upload to Google Classroom.

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Lesson Complete!

You've completed Lesson 1. You now know what a database is, the key terminology, and how to explore and query data in Access. Next lesson: you'll design and build your own database table.

Go to Lesson 2 →