Few Database Terminology and its Applications

Basic Terminology:

Data: - Collection of fact, upon which an conclusion is based. (Information or knowledge has value, data has cost)

Data item: -   Smallest named unit of data that has meaning in the real world (examples: first name, city,  ISD_Code )

Database: - Interrelated collection of data that serves the needs of multiple users within one or more organizations, i.e. interrelated collections of records of potentially many types.

Database administrator (DBA):- A person or group of person responsible for the effective use of database technology in an organization or enterprise. DBA is said to be custodian or owner of Database.

Database Management System: - DBMS is a logical collection of software programs which facilitates large, structured sets of data to be stored, modified, extracted and manipulated in different ways.  Database Management System (DBMS) also provides security features that protect against unauthorized users trying to gain access to confidential information and prevent data loss in case of a system crash. Depending on the specific user’s requirement, users are allowed access to either all, or specific database subschema, through the use of passwords. DBMS is also responsible for the database’s integrity, ensuring that no two users are able to update the same record at the same time, as well as preventing duplicate entries, such as two employees being given the same employee number.

The following are examples of real time database applications:

1. Computerized library management systems.

2. Automated teller machines (ATM)

3. Online Airline reservation systems.

 4. Insurance Management systems.

There are innumerable numbers of Database Management System (DBMS) Software available in the market. Some of the most popular ones include Oracle, IBM’s DB2, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL. MySQL is, one of the most popular database management systems used by online entrepreneurs is one example of an object-oriented DBMS. Microsoft Access (another popular DBMS) on the other hand is not a fully object oriented system, even though it does exhibit certain aspects of it.

Example: A database may contain detailed student  information, certain users may only be allowed access to  student  names , addresses and Phone number, while others user may be able to view payment detail of students or marks detail of student. Access and change logs can be programmed to add even more security to a database, recording the date, time and details of any user making any alteration to the database.

Furthermore, the Database Management Systems employ the use of a query language and report writers to interrogate the database and analyze its data. Queries allow users to search, sort, and analyse specific data by granting users efficient access to the required information.