Q: What is a Database ?

Answer from Pratt/Adamski:

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A Database (DB) is structure that can store information about: 1. multiple types of entities, 2. the attributes that describe those entities; and 3. the relationships among the entities

Answer from Elmasri/Navathe:

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A Database (DB) is collection of related data - with the following properties: 1. A DB is logically coherent and has some relevant meaning 2. A DB is designed, built and populated with data for a specific purpose 3. A DB represents some aspect of the real world.

Answer from Kroenke: An integrated, self-describing collection of related data

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Integrated: Data is stored in a uniform way, typically all in one place (a single physical computer for example) Self-Describing: A database maintains a description of the data it contains (Catalog) Related: Data has some relationship to other data. In a University we have students who take courses taught by professors By taking advantage of relationships and integration, we can provide information to users as opposed to simply data. We can also say that the database is a model of what the users perceive. Three main categories of models: 1. User or Conceptual Models: How users perceive the world and/or the business. 2. Logical Models: Represent the logic of how a a business operates. For example, the relationship between different entities and the flow of data through the organization. Based on the User's model. 3. Physical Models: Represent how the database is actually implemented on a computer system. This is based on the logical model.

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Database Management System (DBMS) A collection of software programs that are used to define, construct, maintain and manipulate data in a database. Database System (DBS) contains: The Database + The DBMS + Application Programs (what users interact with)

File Systems

File System: A collection of individual files accessed by applications programs Limitations of a File System:
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Separated and Isolated Data - Makes coordinating, assimilating and representing data difficult Data Duplication - Wastes space and can lead to data integrity (inconsistency) problems Application Program Dependencies - Changes to a single file can require changes to numerous application programs Incompatible Files

Lack of Data Sharing - Difficult to control access to files, especially to individual portions of files

Advantages of a DBMS A DBMS can provide:

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Data Consistency and Integrity - by controlling access and minimizing data duplication Application program independence - by storing data in a uniform fashion Data Sharing - by controlling access to data items, many users can access data concurrently Backup and Recovery Security and Privacy Multiple views of data

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Example Database
An Example Database CustomerID 123 123 124 125 125 127 127

Name Mr. Smith Mr. Smith Mrs. Jones Mr. Axe Mr. Axe Mr. & Mrs. Builder Mr. & Mrs. Builder

Address

City

State Acct_Number Balance 9987 9980 8811 4422 4433 3322 1122 4000 2000 1000 6000 9000 500 800

123 Lexington Smithville KY 123 Lexington Smithville KY 12 Davis Ave. 443 Grinder Ln. 443 Grinder Ln. Smithville KY Broadville GA Broadville GA GA GA

661 Parker Rd. Streetville 661 Parker Rd. Streetville

What happens when a customer moves to a new house ? Who should have access to what data in this database ? What happens if Mr. and Mrs. Builder both try and withdraw $500 from account 3322 ? What happens if the system crashes just as Mr. Axe is depositing his latest paycheck ?

What data is the customer concerned with ? What data is a bank manager concerned with ? Send a mailing to all customers with checking accounts having greater than $2000 balance Let all GA customers know of a new branch location

Brief History of Database Systems

1940's, 50's Initial use of computers as calculators. Limited data, focus on algorithms. Science, military applications. 1960's Business uses. Organizational data, customer data, sales, inventory, accounting, etc. File system based, high emphasis on applications programs to extract and assimilate data. Larger amounts of data, relatively simple calculations. 1970's The relational model. Data separated into individual tables. Related by keys. Initially required heavy system resources. Examples: Oracle, Sybase, Informix, Digital RDB, IBM DB2. 1980's Microcomputers - the IBM PC, Apple Macintosh. Database program such as DBase (sort of), Paradox, FoxPro, MS Access. Individual user can crate, maintain small databases. Late- 1980's Local area networks. Workgroups sharing resources such as files, printers, e-mail. Client/Server Database resides on a central server, applications programs run on client PCs attached to the server over a LAN. 1990's Internet and World Wide Web make databases of all kinds available from a single type of client - the Web Browser. Data warehousing and Data Mining also emerge. Other types of Databases:
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Object-Oriented Database Systems. Objects (data and methods) stored persistently. Distributed Database Systems. Copies of data reside at different locations for redundancy or for performance reasons.

Appropriate Use for a Database

In addition to the advantages already mentioned: o Performance

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Expendability, Flexibility, Scalability Reduced application development times

Standards enforcement

However, keep in mind:

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DBMS has High initial cost (although falling) DBMS has High Overhead - requires powerful computers DBMS are not special purpose software programs e.g., contrast a canned accouting software package like Quicken or QuickBooks with DBMS like MS Access.

When is a DBMS Not Appropriate? o Database is small with a simple structure

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Applications are simple, special purpose and relatively static. Applications have real-time requirements Examples: Traffic signal control ECU patient monitoring Concurrent, multi-user access to data is not required.