A relational database is a type of database that stores and provides access to data points that are related to one another. Relational databases are based on the relational model, an intuitive, straightforward way of representing data in tables. In a relational database, each row in the table is a record with a unique identifier called the key, while the columns of the table hold attributes of the data. The structure allows for the easy retrieval of specific information and efficient handling of large amounts of data, making relational databases a fundamental element in web hosting and application development.
