FCC 123 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 

    TOPIC 4: DATABASE MANAGEMENT

What is a database? 

A database is an organised pool of logically-related data. Data is stored within the data structures of the database. A DBMS is a suite of computer software providing the interface between users and a database or databases. A DBMS is a shell which surrounds a database or series of databases and through which all interactions take place with the database. The interactions catered for by most existing DBMS fall into four main groups:

• Data definition. Defining new data structures for a database, removing data structures from the database, modifying the structure of existing data.
• Data maintenance. Inserting new data into existing data structures, updating data in existing data structures, deleting data from existing data structures.
• Data retrieval. Querying existing data by end-users and extracting data for use by application programs.
• Data control. Creating and monitoring users of the database, restricting access to data in the database and monitoring the performance of databases.

A database management system (DBMS) is a set of programs that enables storing, modifying, and extracting information from a database. It also provides users with tools to add, delete, access, modify, and analyze data stored in one location. A group can access the data by using query and reporting tools that are part of the DBMS or by using application programs specifically written to access the data. DBMS’s also provide the method for maintaining the integrity of stored data, running security and users access, and recovering information if the system fails. The information from a database can be presented in a variety of formats. Most DBMSs include a report writer program that enables you to output data in the form of a report. Many DBMSs also include a graphics component that enables you to output information in the form of graphs and charts. Database and database management system are essential to all areas of business, they must be carefully managed. There are many different types of DBMSs, ranging from small systems that run on personal computers to huge systems that run on mainframes. The following are examples of database applications: computerized library systems, flight reservation systems, and computerized parts inventory systems.

A DBMS typically supports query languages, which are in effect high-level programming languages, dedicated database languages that considerably simplify writing database application programs. Database languages also simplify the database organization as well as retrieving and presenting information from it. A DBMS provides facilities for controlling data access, enforcing data integrity, managing concurrency control, and recovering the database after failures and restoring it from backup files, as well as maintaining database security.

In this week, the lecturer gave a lecture about the DBMS and relevant examples from different organizations and fields. In addition, I asked questions about DBMS so that I could understand the topic better. In addition, the lecturer gave us task about defining the DBMS  systems used in different organizations.