Plural vs. Singular: Great Debate in Database Table Naming

Advantages and disadvantages of using plural or single names

Table of Contents

Introduction
Plural Table Names
∘ Advantages of Using Plural Names
∘ Disadvantages of Using Plural Names
Singular Table Names
∘ Advantages of Using Singular Names
∘ Disadvantages of Using Singular Names
Final Thoughts

Introduction

The choice between singular or plural database table names is a longstanding debate in database design, and there isn’t a universally “correct” answer.

The most important aspect is to stay consistent throughout the database. If you choose plural, keep all tables plural; if you decide singular, keep all singular. Consistency makes your database schema more readable and easier to maintain.

Plural Table Names

Many developers use plural names (e.g., customers, orders) to signify that a table contains multiple records or entities. This convention aligns with the idea that the table holds a collection of things, which makes sense semantically.