Definition of: database schema
database schema

The definition of a database. It defines the structure and content in each data element within the structure. Schemas are often designed with visual modeling tools that automatically create the SQL code necessary to define the table structures. See subschema and XML schema.

A Database Schema
In this order processing example, the tables for customers and orders are drawn graphically, and the Erwin modeling program turns the graph into the appropriate SQL code for the target database. (Example courtesy of Logic Works, Inc.)