What is the second step in the design process of a database?

The second step in the design process of a database involves creating a logical data model. This step builds upon the initial conceptual schema, where the high-level requirements and data entities have been outlined. In the logical data model, designers translate the concepts identified into a more structured framework that defines the data elements and their relationships in detail without considering how the data will be implemented physically.

This logical structure is crucial because it ensures that the data model accurately reflects the necessary information requirements and can accommodate future needs. It involves defining attributes, primary keys, and foreign keys while ensuring that normalization principles are applied to eliminate redundancy and maintain data integrity. This step lays the groundwork for the subsequent physical database design phase, where the logical models are translated into specific database structures tailored for specific database management systems.

In comparison, the other options relate to various stages in the database design process but do not accurately represent the second step. The conceptual schema is the initial phase that outlines data without delving into structural details. Physical database design comes after the logical data model, focusing on the implementation details necessary to optimize performance, storage, and access methods. Data processing refers to operations applied to the data, rather than a design step in the database context. Thus, identifying the logical data model as the