BTEC 2012

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Unit 1 The Online World

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Lesson 11 Data Storage

Starter What is meant by data storage?

Data storage is the storage of electronic data.

1. What is a database structure made out of?

Key fields, fields and records.

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2. Explain what is meant be each of the following terms.
Table
In a relational database, a table (sometimes called a file) organizes the information
about a single topic into rows and
columns...................................
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Record
all the data about a person or thing.
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Field
A field is one piece of data about a person or thing.
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Relationship
When one database has a foreign key but is a primary key in another..
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Data Type
A programming language in databases.
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I.
II.
III.
IV.

3. Name the various data types that are used in databases.

Alpanumer or text..
number..
date and time..
logical..

Databases use relationships to link different tables together as shown below.

BTEC 2012
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Unit 1 The Online World

Name:

4. What is a primary key?

A key in a relational database that is unique for each recordA relational database must
always have one and only one primary key.

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5. What is a foreign key?
the foreign key is defined in a second table, but it refers to the primary key in the first table.

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6. What kind of relationships can tables have between each other?
One to one and one to many.

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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?
Databases can store very large numbers of records efficiently (they take up little
space).
It is very quick and easy to find information.
It is easy to add new data and to edit or delete old data.
Data can be searched easily, eg 'find all Ford cars'.
Data can be sorted easily, for example into 'date first registered' order.
Data can be imported into other applications, for example a mail-merge letter to a
customer saying that an MOT test is due.
More than one person can access the same database at the same time - multi-

BTEC 2012
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Unit 1 The Online World

Name:

access.
Security may be better than in paper filesWhen a database holds details about
people, it's likely to include their first name, surname and their date of birth. In
addition to this, specialist information is stored depending on the database's
intended use.
The police have details of all known criminals in a database, eg crimes they've
comitted.
Schools use a database to store details about their pupils, eg how many days
they've been off school sick.
A hospital will store details of all its patients in a database, eg a history of their
health issues.
The Government uses a database to store records of people's income tax
payments.
A database is used to keep track of all the drivers in central London who have (or
haven't) paid the Congestion Charge..

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8. What is a DBMS? What does it do?
Database management systems (DBMSs) are computer software applications that interact
with the user, other applications, and the database itself to capture and analyze data. A
general-purpose DBMS is designed to allow the definition, creation, querying, update, and
administration of databases.

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II.
III.

9. Name some common database management systems that are used:

My sql..
access..
oracle..

Plenary What is the difference between a database and a database

management system?

Database is an organised collection of data or information so that it can be easily accessed,

updated or manipulated.
Database management system (DBMS) is a software that manages database on a
computer. Eg. microsoft access, MySQL, oracle etc. Relational database :- A tabular
database in which data is defined so that it can be reorganized and accessed in a number of
different ways. It stores data in tables with relationships to other tables.
2.Distributed database :- A distributed database is one that can be dispersed or replicated
among different point in a network.
3.Object oriented programming database :- In this database, the data is defined in object
classes and sub classes.

BTEC 2012
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Unit 1 The Online World

Name:

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