Question: If I want to list some items from a database, do I need to add a `UIView` and a `UITableView` to my ViewController? or just add the `UITableView` to my `ViewController`?

Answer: 
You must already be having a `UIView` as part of your `ViewController`, Just add `UITableView` as a subview to your `UIView`.

The `UIView` of a `ViewController` can be accessed as `[self.view];`. So what you need to do is `[self.view addSubview:yourTableView];`. Using `setFrame` properly sets it in the x,y,width,height that you need.
Just add the `UITableView` cause you are already have a `UIView`, Please check this [tutorial](http://www.iosdevnotes.com/2011/10/uitableview-tutorial/) on how to use `UITableView`.