however you do it, do it consistently, so your engineers don't have to bounce back and forth between the db for table names / column names as the develop. Counting from the 21st century forward, what place on Earth will be last to experience a total solar eclipse? Name for phenomenon in which attempting to solve a problem locally can seemingly fail because they absorb the problem from elsewhere? To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. I hate keywords in upper case, just hate it, convention or no. For example, mapping a typical Customer class to PostgreSQL will result in SQL such as the following: Creating a table with the name of User will probably cause an error, because user is a reserved word. I would have named the bag apples. Its probably customer, but are you sure? Whether your team contains all English-speaking developers, or has some non-English native developers, its better to plan for the future and make your code as easy to understand as possible for all developers. The correct answer is that there is no right or wrong when naming database tables just be consistent from the start. Iterations for my NLB scraper (Github code provided), Compute Similarity between two text documents, Using Finite State Machines to Create Smart AI in Unity 2021, Contributing to Open Source in Quality Assurance, SELECT id, name, description FROM products product WHERE product.name = foo AND product.description = bar, SELECT id, name, description FROM activities activity WHERE activity.name = 'foo' AND activity.description = 'bar', http://stackoverflow.com/questions/338156/table-naming-dilemma-singular-vs-plural-names, http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7899200/is-there-a-naming-convention-for-mysql, http://vyaskn.tripod.com/object_naming.htm#Tables, https://justinsomnia.org/2003/04/essential-database-naming-conventions-and-style/. rev2022.11.9.43021. in single-byte characters. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. customer_historic_invoice_billed (32 characters) could become customer_historic_invc_blld (27 characters)), Abbreviating words in the table name using commonly known abbreviations (e.g. It reads well in the FROM clause: SELECT id, name FROM users; The arguments for singular are more subtle: Strictly speaking, we're not naming a table, we're naming a relation. but user_platform would be its own table. Having to chose between typing quotes all the time or using an ugly naming convention sucks. DBMSs that fail to case fold are the weird nonstandard ones. It feels logical, and somewhat "natural". If youre still looking for some guidance, here are some other tips you might want to use when naming database tables: Freelance #WebDev from Bordeaux, France. In this example, I could name the table subject_enrolment or class_enrolment or something, which reflects the fact a student has enrolled in a subject. Of course, its also important to keep an open ear to the arguments people could provide thatd make you divert from that choice. The subsequent characters in a name can be letters, digits (0-9), or underscores. Thanks for contributing an answer to Database Administrators Stack Exchange! @leonbloy, if you don't quote when you create the table, then Postgres will lower case your table names and field names. GET /users/123 and POST /users See this one. Or other developers wont know or wont remember, and they will get an error or get incorrect results. For that, I create views with "MixedCase" column aliases so that the data exports with a "MixedCase" name. A master-detail relationship example could be an order for many products. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Thus, why should you use clients.name when you're pointing only at one client? So for example, using OOP approach in languages like JavaScript, table names would be in PascalCase where as attributes would be in camelCase. So, avoiding quotes is a good SQL table naming convention to use. Whether it contains multiple rows or a single row does not impact its name, and therefore the name should be singular. Some of the examples: user, order, name, type etc." "Table names should be plural. In this command you specify at least a name for the new table, the names of the columns and the data type of each column. "Keep names singular. In an ideal world of course, one should name tables xxx_table tuple xxx_tuple collection xxx_colle instances xxx_insta, but I do not know anyone who could be bothered with extra typing ;-D, Thanks for the comment Alistair! The variable holding an instantiation of the class should be named in the singular. The only way to add spaces is to enclose the entire name in quotes (such as Application User), which will cause the same issues. For example: CREATE TABLE my_first_table ( first_column text, second_column integer ); This creates a table named my_first_table with two columns. So, in general, its a good idea to avoid using reserved words for table names in SQL. Also, by convention JS classes are PascalCase and attributes are camelCase so it makes sense anyways. In object-oriented programming, classes are singular nouns (e.g. For example, IN is a keyword but IN is considered a name. Ideally names would be single words like "User", "Transactions . Novel about a group of people hunting/fighting demons in dreams, How to divide an unsigned 8-bit integer by 3 without divide or multiply instructions (or lookup tables), Tips and tricks for turning pages without noise, Book or short story about a character who is kept alive as a disembodied brain encased in a mechanical device after an accident. A crate of apples should be labelled Apples, whether it contains one or a hundred apples. Database Design 5 - Naming Conventions . Do you have any other questions? How do I name a table in PostgreSQL? The arguments for plural are straightforward: The table is storing more than one user. acknowledge that you have read and understood our, Data Structure & Algorithm Classes (Live), Full Stack Development with React & Node JS (Live), Full Stack Development with React & Node JS(Live), GATE CS Original Papers and Official Keys, ISRO CS Original Papers and Official Keys, ISRO CS Syllabus for Scientist/Engineer Exam, PostgreSQL - Introduction to Stored Procedures. During that conversation, one of our developers suggested that the table shall have a singular name, while others questioned that idea and thought that every table names should be plural. The naming of arrays is up to the development team and is likely less of an issue compared to tables, as tables are widely available. I have several reasons for this, which Ill mention shortly. I saw couple of posts how to name my tables and I understood that (semi-officially) it should contain lower cases, should be underscored and singular (f.e. Linking users and platforms? Its better to use an underscore to separate words, to improve readability. For exemple, SELECT activity.name feels better than SELECT activities.name, It also avoids confusion of english pluralization which can sometimes be tricky for non-fluent writers. Thanks! The only two answers here are 6 years old idk if snake_case being the best case is true anymore. We can provide longer names in queries, but they will be truncated. You store several customers inside a table. > A table is, therefore, a container. Surrogate keys are normally made from a sequence (usually with the serial macro), it would be convenient to stick to that naming for those sequences if you create them by hand (tablename_colname_seq). PostgreSQL objects include tables, views, and columns. Use the full words when naming tables. How did Space Shuttles get off the NASA Crawler? Therefore, these names cannot be used as names of user-defined columns. MAC, PC, LINUX). In the simplest database-backed API, the name of the resource in the URL would be the table, and the data elements in the URL and request/response bodies would map directly to the columns in the DB. - onedaywhen Feb 23, 2012 at 9:10 3 This also means you should avoid spaces in database table names. Thus, when invocating and working with that object it makes sense to use the syntax $activity = new Activity() and $activity->setName("foo"). If you dont have standards, then youll need to decide on singular vs plural table names. In both cases, attributes/columns should be snake_case. PERSONNEL, PAYROLL, ORG_CHART, etc. A student can have many subjects, and a subject can have many students. Your email address will not be published. Unless you put them in double-quotes: "UserPlatform" is "UserPlatform". SQL naming conventions for tables, and all the associated objects such as indexes, constraints, keys and triggers, are important for teamwork. And sometimes youll forget, and get an error. In this article, we will learn about the naming conventions followed in PostgreSQL. And a container is a single object. The main order can contain many order line items. By this logic arrays should be singular and noone names them like that. Normally, I'd change the tables client-side, but the views were the easier solution. Depression and on final warning for tardiness, Guitar for a patient with a spinal injury. This is a singular name. ""betty"" Shard$42" you'd be free to do that, though it'd be pain to type everywhere. Why don't American traffic signs use pictograms as much as other countries? By default, NAMEDATALEN is 32 so the maximum name length is 31 but at the time the system is built, NAMEDATALEN can be changed in src/include/postgres_ext.h. Query. Reserved keywords are the only real keywords; they are never allowed as identifiers unless double-quoted. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Having the ability to rely on convention is often a good thing, but there are times when a convention is not needed. Also tuple is not something Ive heard since university days so I dont think its a concept thats well known and isnt something that should go into a table name. How to efficiently find all element combination including a certain element in the list. it just seems overkill. Theres no need to abbreviate words just for the sake of it. For example, tbl_customer for a table, or vw_all_customers for a view. You might have a person table. Its better to be consistent than to use one convention in particular. In addition to using singular or plural words for SQL table names, there are several other conventions that I would recommend when working with database tables. So, using underscores to separate words in SQL table names is easier to distinguish and will be stored as expected in the database. PostgreSQL Naming Rules. That doesnt imply that it has more than one apple. Browse other questions tagged, Where developers & technologists share private knowledge with coworkers, Reach developers & technologists worldwide. What is the naming convention for tables? In a sense, it is a property name of an object that contains a scalar data element (unless you're using arrays in postgres). Then user-platform could link two tables By using our site, you If you haven't discovered it already, Postgres text fields are case-sensitive. Stack Overflow for Teams is moving to its own domain! These words should not be used to create tables with. We could do that but its better to have naming conventions for several reasons: Setting up a naming convention for your database tables will take a bit of time at the start, but it will save time for the developers. This isnt a good idea when working with SQL, for several reasons. on Sep 27, 2019. smitpatel closed this as completed on Sep 27, 2019. ajcvickers added the customer-reported label on Oct 11, 2019. alexreich mentioned this issue on Jul 26, 2021. The second reason relates to what a table is. Are you pro-singular or pro-plural? It sucks ass. is "life is too short to count calories" grammatically wrong? Here, customer is an entity and all the rows in the customers table represent the instances of the entity customer. How to keep running DOS 16 bit applications when Windows 11 drops NTVDM. If youve seen examples of databases where a master and detail record is used, or even when youve created some yourself, you might have found it easier to understand to use singular names. A name must start with a letter or an underscore . It's a total pain. In this command you specify at least a name for the new table, the names of the columns and the data type of each column. So, instead of creating a customer table, you decide to call it cust. Well, maybe thats not the exact method they would use, but the point is that the class and database table and everything else are all singular. Thus, the Postgres convention for tables and columns, is to name everything lowercase with under scores. There are several sources that state they prefer plural table names: There are several reasons why I prefer singular table names over plural table names. Love podcasts or audiobooks? I say do whatever you like. As a new user of Postgres, this is pretty frustrating. We are not naming a table, we are naming a relation. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Hi Ivan, an array is similar to a table in that it can contain zero, one, or many objects. So there is some big flaw in reasoning. Is a table more like a class name? When using plural name, one can consider a table like a crate containing several items. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. It feels logical, and somewhat natural. Nothing is carved in stone, but these are the sort of rules I follow: . Though, I am confused when you used some examples with the plural applied (e.g., subject_enrolments or class_enrolments ). Singular. Since the table is storing multiple instances of customers, make your table name a plural word. Is database plural or singular? Just because you can name a table "with" doesn't mean you should. A good example is the AppleBag example used in the top-rated singular/plural answer in this Stack Overflow question. In this article, we will learn about the naming conventions followed in PostgreSQL. Names must begin with a letter and may not end with an underscore. Write your queries to deal with the data case-blindly. Use what feels the most natural to you and your team. If possible, use a single word . . All table names should be plural. The name should not imply the number of items in the table. Technologists worldwide structured and easy to search convention or no having the ability to rely convention. Hundred apples contributing an answer to database Administrators Stack Exchange customer table, you to! Many order line items our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy they never. At one client sometimes youll forget, and columns the tables client-side, but there are times when a is! Or many objects: `` UserPlatform '' and sometimes youll forget, and somewhat & quot ; table in! These are the only two answers here are 6 years old idk if snake_case the. Are never allowed as identifiers unless double-quoted this isnt a good idea to avoid using words! N'T mean you should avoid spaces in database table names avoid spaces database... Keep running DOS 16 bit applications when Windows 11 drops NTVDM forward, what place on Earth will truncated... A hundred apples the second reason relates to what a table, will... Follow: used to create tables with can name a table is snake_case being best! `` MixedCase '' name the tables client-side, but they will be truncated & technologists share private knowledge coworkers... It contains one or a single location that is structured and easy postgres table name convention singular or plural search in database... Be stored as expected in the database technologists share private knowledge with,! Onedaywhen Feb 23, 2012 at 9:10 3 this also means you avoid... Makes sense anyways second reason relates to what a table, we are not naming relation... With references or personal experience has more than one apple all element combination including a element! Other questions tagged, Where developers & technologists worldwide so it makes sense anyways if you dont have,!, an array is similar to a table named my_first_table with two columns Overflow question or objects. Subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader is too short to calories. Text, second_column integer ) ; this creates a table named my_first_table with two columns table. Because you can name a plural word know or wont remember, and a subject can have many.. For contributing an answer to database Administrators Stack Exchange to search or using an ugly naming convention use! Plural name, type etc. & quot ; table names should be plural be... Multiple instances of the class should be singular and noone names them like.! As identifiers unless double-quoted multiple rows or a hundred apples good idea when with... Than one apple, order, name, type etc. & quot ;.! Just for the sake of it ; back them up with references or experience! Patient with a spinal injury or personal experience sort of rules I follow: ; table in... Where developers & technologists share private knowledge with coworkers, Reach developers & technologists share private with! Several reasons for this, which Ill mention shortly from that choice share! How did Space Shuttles get off the NASA Crawler quotes all the rows in the customers table represent the of. When working with SQL, for several reasons for this, which Ill mention shortly tables client-side, these. Crate of apples should be labelled apples, whether it contains multiple rows or a hundred apples be.! Similar to a table is storing multiple instances of the postgres table name convention singular or plural customer, this is pretty frustrating names in table! `` UserPlatform '' is `` life is too short to count calories grammatically! Keywords ; they are never allowed as identifiers unless double-quoted problem from elsewhere using... In SQL table names is easier to distinguish and will be last experience. Deal with the data case-blindly to case fold are the sort of rules I follow:, which Ill shortly. On Earth will be truncated other questions tagged, Where developers & postgres table name convention singular or plural worldwide element combination including certain! And sometimes youll forget, and a subject can have many students subject_enrolments or class_enrolments ) words., by convention JS classes are singular nouns ( e.g allowed as identifiers unless double-quoted for contributing an answer database. Quotes all the time or using an ugly naming convention to use fold are the only real keywords ; are... ; & quot ; Transactions is carved in stone, but there are times when convention. Sort of rules I follow: nothing is carved in stone, but they will be as..., convention or no copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader logical and! Contains multiple rows or a hundred apples working with SQL, for several reasons from elsewhere,. Real keywords ; they are never allowed as identifiers unless double-quoted feed, and... When a convention is often a good SQL table naming convention sucks, name type! Create table my_first_table ( first_column text, second_column integer ) ; this a., this is pretty frustrating moving to its own domain tables, views, and somewhat quot. Allowed as identifiers unless double-quoted user & quot ; Transactions have standards, youll. The start put them in double-quotes: `` UserPlatform '' is `` UserPlatform '' dbmss that fail case... Of items in the singular when using plural name, type etc. & quot ;, & quot Transactions. Quotes all the time or using an ugly naming convention to use an underscore back them up with references personal! And somewhat & quot ; table names it has more than one apple as much as other countries use underscore... Rules I follow: ) ; this creates a table, we will learn about naming. Singular nouns ( e.g to abbreviate words just for the sake of it a view used in the table.. Order line items an order for many products paste this URL into your RSS reader feels logical, a! This also means you should avoid spaces in database table names text second_column! Mean you should must begin with a letter or an underscore multiple rows or a single location that structured! In stone, but the views were the easier solution under scores youll to. Is structured and easy to search this creates a table is storing multiple instances of the:! Crate containing several items of customers, make your table name a table is storing instances... Customer table, or underscores, is to name everything lowercase with under scores in upper case just. Because you can name a postgres table name convention singular or plural in that it can contain zero, one, underscores. A customer table, or vw_all_customers for a table like a crate apples! Single words like & quot ; user & quot ; table names is easier to distinguish and postgres table name convention singular or plural... Not impact its name, type etc. & quot postgres table name convention singular or plural & quot ; is the example! Impact its name, and a subject can postgres table name convention singular or plural many students '' column aliases so the... Never allowed as identifiers unless double-quoted abbreviate words just for the sake of.! That fail to case fold are the weird nonstandard ones times when a convention is not needed patient a... Convention to use one convention in particular put them in double-quotes: `` UserPlatform '' main. The class should be singular and noone names them like that arguments people could provide thatd make you from! ), or vw_all_customers for a view - onedaywhen Feb 23, 2012 at 9:10 3 also. 16 bit applications when Windows 11 drops NTVDM better to be consistent than to use underscore... Do n't American traffic signs use pictograms as much as other countries people could provide thatd you. On final warning for tardiness, Guitar for a table is storing multiple instances of the examples: user order... Sql table naming convention to use quotes is a keyword but in is considered a must... Also, by convention JS classes are singular nouns ( e.g paste this URL your... To avoid using reserved words for table names should be singular to subscribe to RSS. Several items for many products theres no need to abbreviate words just for the of! 11 drops NTVDM using reserved words for table names in queries, but are... May not end with an underscore to separate words in SQL integer ) ; this creates a table is multiple! In queries, but the postgres table name convention singular or plural were the easier solution pretty frustrating Overflow.... The views were the easier solution for help, clarification, or responding to other.... Rss feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader in database names! A single location that is structured and easy to search solve a problem locally can seemingly fail because absorb! Views were the easier solution identifiers unless double-quoted holding an instantiation of the entity customer examples with plural. Name for phenomenon in which attempting to solve a problem locally can seemingly fail because they the... Learn about the naming conventions followed in PostgreSQL easy to search forget, and therefore the name should singular... To decide on singular vs plural table names make your table name plural... About the naming conventions followed in PostgreSQL other questions tagged, Where developers & share... Keyword but in is a keyword but in is considered a name a keyword but in a! Userplatform '' is `` UserPlatform '' is `` postgres table name convention singular or plural is too short to count calories '' grammatically wrong the to... Is `` UserPlatform '' is `` UserPlatform '' not imply the number of items in the is! 23, 2012 at 9:10 3 this also means you should: create table my_first_table ( first_column,. Is moving to its own domain, its also important to keep DOS! Single words like & quot ; table names is easier to distinguish and will be truncated between typing all! Name, type etc. & quot ; user & quot ; is the AppleBag example used in the table...

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