BTEC 2012

Unit 1 The Online World

Name: .

Lesson 11 Data Storage

Starter What is meant by data storage?
Data that is stored on the internet in a data base
1. What is a database structure made out of?
Field (this is a single piece of data such as name, date of birth or telephone number), Record (this is one complete
set of fields, for example one pupil's school record) and a
File (this is a collection of records, for example a school database (
2. Explain what is meant be each of the following terms.
Table
A table is a collection of related data held in a structured format within a database
Record
This is one complete set of fields, for example one pupil's school record
Field
This is a single piece of data such as name, date of birth or telephone number

Relationship
Relationship exists between two database tables
Data Type
A particular kind of data item
3. Name the various data types that are used in databases.
I. sql_variant
II. uniqueidentifier
III. xml
IV. cursor
Databases use relationships to link different tables together as shown below.

BTEC 2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: .

4. What is a primary key?

Key in a relational database that is unique for each record
5. What is a foreign key?
Foreign key is a field (or collection of fields) in one table that uniquely identifies a row of another table
6. What kind of relationships can tables have between each other?
Excel needs a single path from one table to the next. Therefore, only one relationship between each pair
of tables is active at a time.
Online databases are databases which are accessible using a network, including the internet. They are
very different to local databases as they have to be accessed, and possibly updated, by millions of
users. Normally these databases will have thousands of rows of information. Usually information is
found in online databases by using a search engine.
7. How might an online database be used?
It is very quick and easy to find information.
It is easy to add new data and to edit or delete old data.
8. What is a DBMS? What does it do?
Software for creating and managing databases
Can be used to manage transactional databases, such as HR systems, banking systems
9. Name some common database management systems that are used:
I.
Microsoft SQL Server
II.
SAP Sybase ASE
III.
PostgreSQL

Plenary What is the difference between a database and a database management system?
Database is a collection of interrelated data.
Database management system is a software which can be used to manage the data
by storing it on to the data base and by retrieving it from the data base.