Databases: Data Processing
Databases: Data Processing
Data processing
• Data: raw facts and figures
• An important component of a computer system
Databases • A computer processes data (input) and
transforms it into required information (output)
Behjat Zuhaira
• Do we require storing data in computer?
[email protected]
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A form A report
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Flat-file Databases
• A flat-file is a file having no internal hierarchy
▫ containing records that have no structured interrelationship; e.g. a text
document without any word processing capabilities, markups (tags)
• Flat-File DB: stores data in plain text files
• Typically has only one table; If multiple, each has a separate file
▫ Each record is on a separate line
• Useful for simple data storage needs
• Hard to manage large data needs; difficult to maintain
• Limited capabilities
• Easy to learn and use
• More chances of error
• Can waste disk space
▫ A lot of redundant data may exist in large flat-file DB systems
▫ Adding, deleting, changing any field requires same changes in every file
that contains the same field
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Field Name
Field
Record
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Components of a DB system
• Users
• Database application
• DBMS
• Database
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