Database

A database is an organized collection of structured information, or data, typically stored electronically in a computer system.?

Data Storage: A database is used to store large amounts of structured data, making it easily accessible, searchable, and retrievable.

Data Analysis: A database can be used to perform complex data analysis, generate reports, and provide insights into the data.

Record Keeping: A database is often used to keep track of important records, such as financial transactions, customer information, and inventory levels.

Web Applications: Databases are an essential component of many web applications, providing dynamic content and user management.

Properties of an Ideal Database

1. Integrity

2. Availability

3. Security

4. Independent of Application

5. Concurrency

Types of databases

There are many different types of databases. The best database for a specific organization depends on how the organization intends to use the data.

Relational databases

• Relational databases?became dominant in the 1980s. Items in a relational database are organized as a set of tables with columns and rows. Relational database technology provides the most efficient and flexible way to access structured information.

Object-oriented databases

• Information in an object-oriented database is represented in the form of objects, as in object-oriented programming.

Distributed databases

• A distributed database consists of two or more files located in different sites. The database may be stored on multiple computers, located in the same physical location, or scattered over different networks.

Data warehouses

• A central repository for data, a data warehouse is a type of database specifically designed for fast query and analysis.

NoSQL databases

• A?NoSQL, or nonrelational database, allows unstructured and semistructured data to be stored and manipulated (in contrast to a relational database, which defines how all data inserted into the database must be composed). NoSQL databases grew popular as web applications became more common and more complex.

Graph databases

• A graph database stores data in terms of entities and the relationships between entities.
• OLTP databases.?An OLTP database is a speedy, analytic database designed for large numbers of transactions performed by multiple users.

Database management systems (DBMS)

If an organization wants to adopt the database approach, then it needs a collection of programs that enable the users of the organization to create and maintain databases and control all access to them. This is achieved using a?database management system?(DBMS). The primary goal of a DBMS is to provide an environment that is both convenient and efficient for users to retrieve and store information.

?A DBMS serves as an interface between the database and its end users or programs, allowing users to retrieve, update, and manage how the information is organized and optimized. A DBMS also facilitates oversight and control of databases, enabling a variety of administrative operations such as performance monitoring, tuning, and backup and recovery.

Some examples of popular database software or DBMSs include MySQL, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, FileMaker Pro, Oracle Database, and dBASE.

Functions of DBMS

Data Management - Store, retrieve and modify data

Integrity - Maintain accuracy of data

Concurrency - Simultaneous data access for multiple users

Transaction - Modification to database must either be successful or

must not happen at all

Security - Access to authorized users only

Utilities - Data import/export, user management, backup, logging

Drawbacks of Databases

Complexity: Setting up and maintaining a database can be complex and time-consuming, especially for large and complex systems.

Cost: The cost of setting up and maintaining a database, including hardware, software, and personnel, can be high.

Scalability: As the amount of data stored in a database grows, it can become more difficult to manage, leading to performance and scalability issues.

Data Integrity: Ensuring the accuracy and consistency of data stored in a database can be a challenge, especially when multiple users are updating the data simultaneously.

Security: Securing a database from unauthorized access and protecting sensitive information can be difficult, especially with the increasing threat of cyber attacks.

Data Migration: Moving data from one database to another or upgrading to a new database can be a complex and time-consuming process.

Flexibility: The structure of a database is often rigid and inflexible, making it difficult to adapt to changing requirements or to accommodate new types of data.