Database and database system have become an essential part of our everyday life nowadays. We encounter several activities that involve some interaction with a database almost daily. The examples include preparation of census record, preparation of result sheet, deposit and withdrawal from a bank, airline reservation, accessing computerized library, purchase items from supermarkets etc. In all these cases, a database is accessed. Database has been being used knowingly or unknowingly in our daily life. Computerized database enables the user to find the specific information very fast and helps him/her to take right decision at right time.
Flat file or file based system
Before the database system has come in use, people used to keep records in file based or flat file system. It is the early attempt to computerize the manual filing system. the flat file based system works well when the number of records to be stored is small and there is not necessity for cross-referencing and processing of information in the file. File based system has many limitations. As a result it has been replaced by the database system.
Limitation of file based/flat file system
Duplication of data.
Inconsistent data.
Data dependence.
Incompatible file formats.
Fixed queries.
Introduction: Data, Information, Database and DBMS
Data
Data is the known facts and figures about a person, place, event or thing which can be recorded in computer in the form of number, text, picture, audio, video etc. For example, `101’, `Krishna Sapkota’, `XII’ etc. are some of the example of data. Data is the basic element or fact of database as it provides the information after processing. Data is the raw facts to generate information and data itself only is not very meaningful.it is processed to produce meaningful and useful information.
Information
Information is the processed value which we get after processing by the computer. Information is very meaningful and useful to us and it enables to make right decision at right time. Database system provides us the right information by processing the collected data in the database. The meaning of data is interpreted by people. Data consists of facts, which become information when they processed and generate some meaning to people. Computers process data without any understanding of what the data represents.
Database
A database is an organized collection of related data where data is the know facts and figures about a person, place, event or thing which can be recorded. A file composed of records, each containing fields together with a set of operations for searching, sorting, recombining and other functions. For example, phone diary, result sheet, customer records, price list etc. Database contains only data not information, so it should be analyzed or processed to get required information. We can defined database as a collection of tables, views, index and other objects to serve a specific purpose, such as searching, sorting, recombining data etc. in a computer system.
Advantages of database ever flat file or file based system
Reduction of data redundancies.
Shared data.
Improved integrity.
Efficient data access.
Multiple user interfaces.
Improved security.
Improved backup and recovery.
Support for concurrent transactions.
Unforeseen queries can be answered.
0 Comments