What characterizes a relational database?

A relational database is characterized by the organization of data into structured tables, where each table consists of rows and columns. This tabular format allows for the representation of relationships between different data entities through the use of primary and foreign keys. Each row in a table represents a unique record, and each column represents a specific attribute of that record. The relationships among tables are essentially what define a relational database, enabling complex queries and data integrity through relational algebra.

This organization allows for efficient data retrieval and manipulation through a standardized query language, such as SQL (Structured Query Language), which is specifically designed for managing and querying relational database systems. The capability to define relationships among data reinforces the normalization process, reducing redundancy and improving data integrity.

The other options do not align with the fundamental characteristics of a relational database. Flat files imply a more simplistic structure without relationships, while a hierarchical format indicates a tree-like structure rather than a tabular format. Additionally, the notion of using only binary data types overlooks the variety of data types that relational databases support, including text, numbers, dates, and more. Thus, the organizing principle of tables with relationships is essential to defining what a relational database is.