CRUD operations are the four basic operations that are used in most backend systems to Create, Read, Update, and Delete data. These procedures serve as the foundation of many backend systems and are necessary for any application that needs data management, including web and mobile applications.
In this article, we will take a closer look at each of the CRUD operations and discuss how they work.
Create
The Create operation is used to add new data to a system. For illustration, let's say I run an online bookstore called Alayo Bookstore that sells electronic books. The create operation would be used to add a new book to the system. To create a new book, the application sends a request to the backend system that includes the details of the book to be created e.g. name of the book, author's detail, the genre of the book, price, etc. The backend system then adds this data to the database.
Read
The Read operation is used to retrieve data from a system. For Alayo Bookstore, the read operation would be used to retrieve information about the book. To read a book's data, the application sends a request to the backend system that includes the criteria for the data to be retrieved. The backend system then retrieves the data from the appropriate database and returns it to the application.
Update
The Update operation is used to modify existing data in a system. For Alayo Bookstore, Let's say the price of a book changes, we use the update operation to modify the price of the book. To update the book price, the application sends a request to the backend system that includes the new price and the criteria for identifying the book to be updated. The backend system then updates the record in the database.
Delete
The delete operation is used to remove data from a system. For Alayo Bookstore, the delete operation would be used to remove a book from the store. To delete a book, the application sends a request to the backend system that includes the criteria for identifying the book to be deleted. The backend system then removes the appropriate record from the database.
Conclusion
CRUD operations are the foundation of most backend systems and are essential for managing data in applications. Understanding how these operations work is crucial for any backend developer, and mastering them is the first step towards building robust and efficient backend systems.