Database terms
Where your data lives, breathes, and occasionally panics
Almost every application is, at its core, a system for reading and writing data. This category covers relational and non-relational databases, query optimisation, indexing strategies, transactions, normalisation, replication, and the CAP theorem trade-offs that dictate how distributed data behaves. Choosing and using the right database correctly is one of the highest-leverage skills in backend development.
SELECT FOR UPDATE
A locking read that acquires exclusive row locks — preventing other transactions from modifying selected rows until commit.
1mo ago
database advanced
Soft Delete Pattern
Marking records as deleted with a deleted_at timestamp instead of physically removing them — preserving data for auditing and recovery.
1mo ago
database intermediate
SQL Window Functions
Window functions (ROW_NUMBER, RANK, LAG, LEAD, SUM OVER) perform calculations across a set of rows related to the current row without collapsing them into a single aggregate — enabling rankings, running totals, and comparisons within result sets.
1mo ago
database intermediate
SQLite in Production PHP 5.1+
SQLite is a serverless, file-based SQL database that is appropriate for production use in single-server applications, edge deployments, and embedded systems — with specific limitations around concurrent writes that make it unsuitable for multi-server setups.
2mo ago
database intermediate
Safe Database Migration Patterns PHP 5.0+ Expand-contract, backward-compatible migrations run alongside a zero-downtime deploy — never rename or drop columns in the same deploy as the code change.
2mo ago
database intermediate
SQL Window Functions PHP 5.0+
SQL functions that perform calculations across a set of rows related to the current row without collapsing them into a single output row.
2mo ago
database advanced
Stored Procedures vs Application Logic PHP 5.0+
Stored procedures execute business logic inside the database — close to data but hard to test, version, and deploy. Application logic is more maintainable but requires more round-trips.
2mo ago
database intermediate