Database Design Template - Free Download & Example
Download our free database design template. Includes ERD schema, normalisation checklist, indexing strategy and data dictionary. Suitable for relational databases.
A solid database design is the foundation of every reliable software application. This template guides you through designing a scalable and performant database schema. It includes sections for the Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD), table specifications with columns and data types, a normalisation checklist up to third normal form, indexing strategy, relationship definitions with foreign keys and a full data dictionary. By documenting your database design upfront you avoid costly refactoring later in the project.
Variations
Relational Database Design (SQL)
Complete design for relational databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL or SQL Server, including ERD, normalisation, stored procedures and views.
Best for: Suited for transaction-heavy applications, ERP systems and projects where data integrity and ACID compliance are essential.
NoSQL Document Database Design
Template for document-based databases like MongoDB or Firestore, covering embedding vs referencing, sharding and index strategies.
Best for: Ideal for content management systems, real-time applications and projects with flexible or rapidly changing data structures.
Data Warehouse Schema Design
Star schema and snowflake schema templates for analytical databases with dimension and fact tables, ETL specifications and partitioning.
Best for: Perfect for business intelligence projects, dashboards and organisations that need to analyse large volumes of historical data.
How to use
Step 1: Download the database design template and select the variant matching your database technology. Step 2: Identify all entities (tables) based on your functional requirements and domain model. Step 3: Define attributes for each entity with name, data type, nullable status and default value in the data dictionary. Step 4: Draw the Entity-Relationship Diagram with all relationships (one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many) and cardinalities. Step 5: Normalise your schema to at least third normal form to eliminate redundancy, using the included normalisation checklist. Step 6: Define primary keys, foreign keys and unique constraints for each table. Step 7: Design your indexing strategy based on expected queries and reporting needs. Step 8: Document migration scripts and seed data required for the initial setup.
Frequently asked questions
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