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name: data description: Database design, migrations, queries, and data integrity best practices

• Use parameterized queries — never string-concat SQL.
• Add indexes for frequently queried columns before they become slow.
• Migrations must be forward-only and rollback-safe.
• No N+1 queries — use eager loading or batch queries.
• Enforce constraints at the database level, not just in application code.
• Use transactions for multi-step data changes.
• Back up before destructive operations in production.
• Log slow queries and investigate — do not ignore them.