In 1970, a computer scientist named E.F. Codd published a famous research paper titled:

✅ “A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks”

This single paper changed the entire world of data storage.

Why?

Because before this model, computers stored data in a complicated, messy and unorganized way. Data was difficult to search, edit, link, or share.

Codd introduced a simple and powerful idea:

Store data in tables (rows and columns), and use relationships to connect them.

This became the foundation of relational databases.
Today, popular systems like:

✅ MySQL
✅ SQL Server
✅ PostgreSQL
✅ Oracle
✅ MariaDB

…all exist because of this model.

What Is the Relational Model?

The relational model means:

✔ Data is stored in tables (called “relations”)
✔ Each table has rows (records)
✔ Each table has columns (fields/attributes)
✔ Tables can be connected using keys

✅ Example Table: Users

✅ Example Table: Orders

Notice:

✔ User_ID connects both tables
✔ This connection is called a relationship

This is the entire idea of a relational model — store data separately, but connect it logically.

Why E.F. Codd Proposed This Model

Before relational databases, companies used hierarchical and network models.
Problems:

❌ Hard to search
❌ Difficult to update
❌ Data duplication
❌ No easy way to connect different records
❌ Poor security
❌ Complex programming

Relational model solved all these problems.

✅ Simple table format
✅ Easy queries
✅ Data sharing
✅ Secure access
✅ Less duplication
✅ Better performance for large banks of data

What Are Large Shared Data Banks?

“Large shared data banks” refers to:

✔ Big databases
✔ Used by many people
✔ Accessed by multiple applications
✔ Need high accuracy & security

Example:

• Banking systems
• E-commerce websites
• Hospital patient records
• University student data
• Social media platforms

Millions of users share the same information — relational model keeps it organized and safe.

Benefits of Relational Model

How SQL Comes From the Relational Model

Codd’s model led to the creation of SQL (Structured Query Language).

SQL allows users to:

✔ Insert data
✔ Update data
✔ Delete data
✔ Search & filter data
✔ Join multiple tables

Example SQL query:

SELECT Users.Name, Orders.Product
FROM Users
JOIN Orders ON Users.User_ID = Orders.User_ID;

This query links two tables → result comes in seconds.

Real-World Examples

Because of relational model, all this data stays:
✅ organized
✅ fast
✅ searchable

You can link related articles like:

🔗 What Is a Database?

• Official research paper (PDF): https://www.seas.upenn.edu/~zives/03f/cis550/codd.pdf
• MySQL documentation: https://dev.mysql.com/doc/
• PostgreSQL docs: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/

FAQs

1. What is “A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks”?

It is E.F. Codd’s famous 1970 research paper that introduced relational databases. It explained how tables and relationships can organize huge amounts of shared data safely.

2. What is a relational database?

A database where data is stored in tables and linked with relationships using keys.

3. Why is the relational model important?

Because today’s banking, e-commerce, hospitals, universities, cloud apps — all store their data using relational databases.

4. What languages are based on the relational model?

✅ SQL (Structured Query Language)
Almost every relational database uses SQL.

✅ 5. What are examples of relational databases?

MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, MariaDB.

Conclusion

“A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks” is the foundation of modern data storage.
Codd’s idea of storing data in tables and linking them with relationships changed computing forever.

Today, nearly every major system uses relational databases because they are:
✔ fast
✔ secure
✔ scalable
✔ accurate
✔ easy to manage