A relational database consists of a collection of

A relational database consists of a collection of tables, each having a unique key. The tables or relations are linked to each other through this unique key. Each table has a set of attributes or fields, but one of these fields is the key or multiple keys forming a composite key. This key is unique and can identify a record in the table unambiguously.

Here are the steps to understand it:

1. Tables: A relational database is essentially made up of tables. Each table holds data about a specific topic or entity, such as employees, products, or orders.

2. Unique Key: Each table in a relational database has a unique key, also known as a primary key. This key is a specific column (or set of columns) that uniquely identifies each row in the table.

3. Attributes/Fields: Each table is made up of columns, also known as attributes or fields. These fields represent different pieces of data, such as a person's name, address, or age.

4. Relations: The tables in a relational database are linked to each other through their keys. This is where the term "relational" comes from. For example, an order table might be linked to a customer table through a customer ID field. This allows data to be organized and accessed in a flexible, efficient manner.

5. Records: Each row in a table represents a record. A record is a set of related data that belongs to a specific entity, such as a particular employee or product.

So, a relational database is a structured way of storing data, where data is organized into tables and the relationship between the data is stored as well.