what is a schema

A schema is a term used in different fields, including computer programming, psychology, and database management. In computer programming, a schema refers to the organization or structure for a database. It is an abstract design that represents the storage of data in a database and describes both the organization of data and the relationships between tables in a given database. A database schema is the structure of a database described in a formal language supported typically by a relational database management system (RDBMS) . In psychology, a schema is a knowledge structure that allows organisms to interpret and understand the world around them. Schemas are mental models found in long-term memory that the brain utilizes to organize information about the world. In database management, a schema is a collection of logical structures of data, or schema objects, owned by a database user and has the same name as that user. Each user owns a single schema, and schema objects can be created and manipulated with SQL. Schemas are important for data modeling and lead to the creation of a skeletal structure representing a logical view of a whole database.