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What Is a Database?
A database can be summarily described as a repository for data. This makes clear that building
databases is really a continuation of a human activity that has existed since writing began; it can be
applied to the result of any bookkeeping or recording activity that occurred long before the advent of the
computer era. However, this description is too vague for some of our purposes, and we refine it as we go
along. The creation of a database is required by the operation of an enterprise. We use the term
enterprise to designate a variety of endeavors that range from an airline, a bank, or a manufacturing
company to a stamp collection or keeping track of people to whom you want to write New Year cards.
Throughout this book we use a running example that deals with the database of a small college. The
college keeps track of its students, its instructors, the courses taught by the college, grades received by
students, and the assignment of advisors to students, as well as other aspects of the activity of the
institution that we discuss later. These data items constitute the operational data — that is, the data that
the college needs to function. Operational data are built from various input data (application forms for
students, registration forms, grade lists, schedules) and is used for generating output data (transcripts,
registration records, administrative reports, etc.) Note that no computer is necessary for using such a
database; a college of the 1930’s would have kept the same database in paper form. However, the
existence of computers to store and manipulate the data does change user expectations: we expect to
store more data and make more sophisticated use of these data.
A database system is a computer based record keeping System whose overall purpose is to record and
maintain information that is relevant to the organization necessary for making decisions.
With the growth of the database, these systems are used in various applications of real world such as
• Banking System and ATM's machines.
• Stock Trading Systems.
• Flight Reservation Systems.
• Computerized Library Systems.
• Super Market Product Inventory System.
• Credit Card/Credit Limit Check System.
Database can range from those of a single user with a desktop computer to those on mainframe
computers with thousands of users.
1. Data - It is a very important component of the database system. Most of the organizations generate,
store and process 1arge amount of data. The data acts a bridge between the machine parts i.e. hardware
and software and the users which directly access it or access it through some application programs.
Data may be of different types.
• User Data - It consists of a table(s) of data called Relation(s) where Column(s) are called fields of
attributes and rows are called Records for tables. A Relation must be structured properly.
• Metadata - A description of the structure of the database is known as Metadata. It basically means
"data about data". System Tables store the Metadata which includes.
- Number of Tables and Table Names
- Number of fields and field Names
- Primary Key Fields
• Application Metadata - It stores the structure and format of Queries, reports and other applications
components. '
2.Hardware - The hardware consists of the secondary storage devices such as magnetic disks (hard
disk, zip disk, floppy disks), optical disks (CD-ROM), magnetic tapes etc. on which data is stored together
with the Input/Output devices (mouse, keyboard, printers), processors, main memory etc. which are
used for storing and retrieving the data in a fast and efficient manner. Since database can range from
those of a single user with a desktop computer to those on mainframe computers with thousand of users,
therefore proper care should be taken for choosing appropriate hardware devices for a required
database.
3.Software - The Software part consists of DBMS which acts as a bridge between the user and the
database or in other words, software that interacts with the users, application programs, and database
and files system of a particular storage media (hard disk, magnetic tapes etc.) to insert, update, delete
and retrieve data. For performing these operations such as insertion, deletion and updation we can
either use the Query Languages like SQL, QUEL, Gupta SQL or application softwares such as Visual 3asic,
Developer etc.
4. Users - Users are those persons who need the information from the database to carry out their
primary business responsibilities i.e. Personnel, Staff, Clerical, Managers, Executives etc. On the basis of
the job and requirements made by them they are provided access to the database totally or partially.
The various types of users which can access the database are:-
• Database Administrators (DBA)
• Database Designers
• End Users
• Application Programmers
On the other hand, in computer file-based system, the structure of data items are built into the individual
application programs. Thus the data is dependent on the data file and vice versa.
15. Advanced Capabilities:
DBMS also provides advance capabilities for online access and reporting of data through Internet. Today,
most of the database systems are online. The database technology is used in conjunction with Internet
technology to access data on the web servers.
Types of Databases:
• Document-oriented database: A document-oriented database is a computer program designed
for storing, retrieving, and managing document-oriented, or semi structured data, information
Hypertext database: Hypertext databases are particularly useful for organizing large amounts
of disparate information. For example they are useful for maintaining online encyclopedias.
Operational database: These database store detailed data about the operations of an
organization.
Flat-File database: The flat-file style of database are ideal for small amounts of data that needs
to be human readable or edited by hand
Distributed database: A distributed database is a database in which storage devices are not all
attached to a common processing unit such as the C.P.U. It may be stored in multiple computers
located in the same physical location, or may be dispersed over a network of interconnected
Concept of Normalization:
What is Normalization? _
The process by which we efficiently organize data to achieve these goals: _
Eliminating redundancy _
Ensuring data is stored in the correct table _
Eliminating need for restructuring database when data is added. _
Five levels of normal form:
_ In order to achieve one level of normal form, each previous level must be met
However third normal form is sufficient for most typical database applications
(1) First Normal Form (1NF) :_
There are no repeating or duplicate fields. Each cell contains only a single value. Each record is unique. _
Identified by primary key
(2) Second Normal Form (2NF) :
_ All non-key fields depend on all components of the primary key. Guaranteed when primary key is a single
field.
(3) Third Normal Form (3NF) : _
No non-key field depends upon another. All non-key fields depend only on the primary key.