ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Database trigger

A database trigger is like a magic and secret button that you press and something happens automatically. Imagine that you have a toy that makes a sound when you press a button. The trigger in a database is kind of like that toy button, but instead of making a sound, it makes changes in the database.

The database is like a big box full of information. Sometimes, you want to change some information in that box without having to do it yourself every time. For example, imagine that you have a box of different toys, and every time someone picks up a toy, you want to keep track of who took it and when. Instead of writing down the information yourself every time someone takes a toy, you can program a database trigger to automatically save that information for you.

The trigger is like a special rule that you set up in the database. When someone takes a toy, the trigger notices and does something automatically, like saving the date and time that the toy was taken and the name of the person who took it. You don't have to worry about remembering to write down the information yourself – the trigger does it for you.

In summary, a database trigger is like a secret button that does something automatically in the database, like saving information or making changes, without you having to do it yourself every time.