How do you implement role-based access control (RBAC) in a database?

Short answer: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is a method for restricting system access to authorized users based on roles. Each role defines a set of permissions (what actions can be performed on which database objects). Steps to implement RBAC:

Real-world example (ShopNest)

ShopNest’s SQL Server database stores customers, products, and orders. Good indexes and clear foreign keys keep checkout queries fast and safe.

Say this in the interview

1. Define — one clear sentence (the short answer above).
2. Example — relate it to a project like ShopNest or your real work.
3. Trade-off — when you would not use it.