How important is it to understand the relational algebra?
In the first place, the relational algebra is a part of computer science and so it should be useful thing ;)
Secondly, although the relational algebra is a formal model, it's the basis for database query languages. Widely used SQL is based on it. The study of the relational algebra is supposed to make the comprehension of SQL easier.
FoundationsFirst of all the relational algebra is a procedural query language. The word "procedural" means that the language consists of operations. The operations are performed on relations (tables or parts of them).
Relational Algebra Operations:
