Introduction to Database Management Systems (DBMS)

Database management system introduction

Database is a collection of data or information. The real-time example of databases is telephone directory. It is used for storing information such as name, address, telephone number along with code numbers and providing access to information for multiple users. Computer stores such data and provides easy access in a faster time. Computer databases are used in all kinds of organizations like business, hospitals, and banking, among others. Technology advancements allow multiple users to access data, thereby making the information centralized. Complex algebraic algorithms work together to access information easily and querying a database provides quick results. A database is a type of file system that stores data and organizes it in a useful and understandable structure.

A database is stored as a file or set of files. The information in these files is broken into records which consist of many fields. Field is the basic unit of storage which contains information related to an attribute of an entity. Records are organized into tables which establish relationships between the fields. Database records and files must be organized to allow retrieval of the information. A database management system allows accessing and retrieving data in response to queries. Database management systems also provide cross-referencing capabilities.

Database management system, which is a collection of interrelated data, provides an environment to conveniently and efficiently use the data stored.

Types of Databases

Databases use file systems to store data, but this proved to be redundant and inconsistent. In flat databases, data is organized according to a list of entities. Hierarchical databases are tree-like structures where each level of records branches off, providing just a single link between sets of records at different levels. Network databases provide multiple linkages between records by placing links between them. The accuracy and speed of network databases have led to their widespread use in business and e-commerce.

Relational databases are used where files cannot be related by links. Database management systems employ various iterations of SQL for relational databases. Object-oriented databases store and manipulate complex data structures called objects and are considered the most flexible and adaptable database structure.

Data Warehouses and Data Mining

Databases are being combined electronically into large collections known as data warehouses. Businesses and government agencies then employ data mining software to analyze multiple aspects of the data for various patterns.