Database Management Basics
Database management is a method of managing the information that supports a company’s business operations. It involves storing data, disseminating it to users and applications, editing it as needed as well as monitoring changes in data and protecting against data corruption due to unexpected failure. It is a part of a company’s overall informational infrastructure that aids in decision-making and corporate growth, as well as compliance with laws like the GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act.
The first database systems were developed in the 1960s by Charles Bachman, IBM and others. They developed into information management systems (IMS) which allowed large amounts of data to be stored and retrieved for a variety of reasons. From calculating inventory to supporting complicated financial accounting functions, and human resource functions.
A database is a set of tables that arrange data in accordance with an established pattern, such as one-to-many relationships. It uses the primary key to identify records and allows cross-references among tables. Each table has a collection of attributes or fields that represent facts about data entities. The most popular type of database today is a allindiaresult.net relational model created by E. F. «Ted» Codd at IBM in the 1970s. The design is based on normalizing the data, making it simpler to use. It is also easier to update data because it doesn’t require the modification of various databases.
Most DBMSs can support multiple types of databases by offering different internal and external levels of organization. The internal level addresses cost, scalability and other operational concerns including the layout of the database’s physical storage. The external level is the way the database is displayed in user interfaces and other applications. It can include a combination of various external views (based on the various data models) and may also include virtual tables that are constructed using generic data to improve performance.
