What is the concept of a database?
KS3 Databases Resources (14-16 years)
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A-Level Introduction to Databases (16-18 years)
Candidates should be able to:
What is a database?A database is a persistent, organised store of related data.
An address book, an encyclopaedia and a telephone directory are examples of paper-based manual databases. However, it is more common to talk about computerised databases. Computerised databases have several advantages over manual databases. These include:
A computerised database is a collection of related data stored in one or more computerised files in a manner that can be accessed by users or computer programs. Most computerised databases are operational databases, meaning that data going into the database is used in real time to support the ongoing activities of a business. A supermarket accounting system is an example: as items are sold, the inventory database is updated and the inventory information is made available to the sales staff. Computers have the ability to store large amounts of data in a compact space and to process it speedily. Organisations of all sizes use databases to store, sort, interrogate and manage their data. Below are a few examples: Hospital databases maintain details of patients, doctors and treatments. The databases manage and co-ordinate admissions, consultations, treatments, staffing and stock control. Business use databases to keep track of sales, stock and staff, etc. and to analyse their own performance Databases also help businesses to monitor trends in customers’ purchases. This helps businesses identify market opportunities. Internet Search engines, such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc. all have powerful databases behind the scenes to collect the details of websites that are used in searches. What is data handling software?Any software designed to create, maintain and interrogate computerised databases is termed data handling software. Data handling software can therefore range from a simple program that creates and maintains a specific comma-delimited flat-file database through to sophisticated relational database management systems that can be used to create and manage a huge variety of database structures. How is data management software used to create a database?Database creation involves using software to define and build the structures to hold the data. In a database file the data is structured in a particular way.
Database creation involves the following steps:
For example, in a database of students;
This database FILE would contain just one table and is known as a flat-file database. There are a number of limitations to such databases and a relational database which contains multiple linked tables offers many advantages. How is data management software used to maintain a database?Database maintenance involves the following:
How is the data in a data files actually stored?The data in a database can be physically stored in different ways, each offering particular advantages and disadvantages. Serial data filesIn a serial data file each record is stored in series, one after the other and there are no particular order to the records. In this type of file structure the computer has to read through the data record-by-record until it finds the record that is needs to access. This makes accessing data from a serial file relatively slow. If a record is deleted or edited then the complete altered file is re-written back to the storage medium which is relatively slow and may involve writing to a temporary file until the process is completed. The original file is then replaced by the altered temporary file. Sequential data filesIn a sequential data file the data the records are still in series but they are stored in order, using one of the records in the database. This makes if much easier to locate a particular record using an algorithm such as a binary sort. An alternative an indexed sequential file. Here the position of each record is stored in an index which is a separate sub-file. This allows the computer to quickly access any record by looking it up in the index first and then going directly to the correct location. SUMMARY:animation comparing the different data file types
How does data management software interrogate a database?Database interrogation involves using the database management software to query (search) the database for information. There are many reasons why users may wish to query data, including:
The above list shows that queries are a means of producing information from data. This information is used by the decision makers in organisations to plan strategies and tactics. Databases usually allow users to create, save and then reuse queries. A query design specifies which records the user is searching for and what fields to display out of those records. There are two types of query:
Further Readings:
What is database concepts explain with example?A database is a systematic collection of data. They support electronic storage and manipulation of data. Databases make data management easy. Let us discuss a database example: An online telephone directory uses a database to store data of people, phone numbers, and other contact details.
What is database introduction and concepts?A database, in the most general sense, is an organized collection of data. More specifically, a database is an electronic system that allows data to be easily accessed, manipulated and updated. In other words, a database is used by an organization as an electronic way to store, manage and retrieve information.
What are database concepts in DBMS?DBMS Concepts
Software-A DBMS is a software-based system that provides a management interface, which helps users control databases and data sources. Data-DBMS provides controls for managing operational data, such as records and metadata, as well as index files, data dictionaries, and administrative information.
What is the main idea of database?A database intends to have a collection of data stored together to serve multiple applications as possible. Hence a database is often conceived of as a repository of information needed for running certain functions in a corporation or organization.
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