Karl O'Connell HDIP - 2019

Introduction to Databases

Examples of Database Applications

• Purchases from the supermarket
• Purchases using your credit card
• Booking a holiday at the travel agents
• Using the local library
• Taking out insurance
• Renting a video
• Using the Internet
• Studying at university

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File-Based Systems
• Collection of application programs that
perform services for the end users (e.g.
reports).
• Each program defines and manages its
own data.

File-Based Processing

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Limitations of File-Based Approach

• Separation and isolation of data

– Each program maintains its own set of data.
– Users of one program may be unaware of
potentially useful data held by other programs.

• Duplication of data
– Same data is held by different programs.
– Wasted space and potentially different values
and/or different formats for the same item.

Limitations of File-Based Approach

• Data dependence
– File structure is defined in the program code.
• Incompatible file formats
– Programs are written in different languages,
and so cannot easily access each other’s files.
• Fixed Queries/Proliferation of application
programs
– Programs are written to satisfy particular
functions.
– Any new requirement needs a new program.

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Database Approach
• Arose because:
– Definition of data was embedded in
application programs, rather than being
stored separately and independently.
– No control over access and manipulation of
data beyond that imposed by application
programs.

• Result:
– the database and Database Management
System (DBMS).

Database
• Shared collection of logically related data
(and a description of this data), designed to
meet the information needs of an
organization.
• System catalog (metadata) provides
description of data to enable program–data
independence.
• Logically related data comprises entities,
attributes, and relationships of an
organization’s information.

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Database Management System

(DBMS)
• A software system that enables users to
define, create, maintain, and control
access to the database.

• (Database) application program: a

computer program that interacts with
database by issuing an appropriate
request (SQL statement) to the DBMS.

Database Management System

(DBMS)

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Database Approach
• Data definition language (DDL).
– Permits specification of data types,
structures and any data constraints.
– All specifications are stored in the database.

• Data manipulation language (DML).

– General enquiry facility (query language) of
the data.

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Database Approach
• Controlled access to database may
include:
– a security system
– an integrity system
– a concurrency control system
– a recovery control system
– a user-accessible catalog.

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Views
• Allows each user to have his or her own
view of the database.

• A view is essentially some subset of the

database.

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Views - Benefits
• Reduce complexity
• Provide a level of security
• Provide a mechanism to customize the
appearance of the database
• Present a consistent, unchanging picture
of the structure of the database, even if
the underlying database is changed

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Components of DBMS Environment

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Components of DBMS Environment

• Hardware
– Can range from a PC to a network of
computers.
• Software
– DBMS, operating system, network software (if
necessary) and also the application programs.
• Data
– Used by the organization and a description
of this data called the schema.

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Components of DBMS Environment

• Procedures
– Instructions and rules that should be applied to
the design and use of the database and DBMS.
• People

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Roles in the Database Environment

• Data Administrator (DA)
• Database Administrator (DBA)
• Database Designers (Logical and
Physical)
• Application Programmers
• End Users (naive and sophisticated)

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History of Database Systems

• First-generation
– Hierarchical and Network

• Second generation
– Relational

• Third generation
– Object-Relational
– Object-Oriented

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Advantages of DBMSs
• Control of data redundancy
• Data consistency
• More information from the same amount
of data
• Sharing of data
• Improved data integrity
• Improved security
• Enforcement of standards
• Economy of scale

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Advantages of DBMSs
• Balance conflicting requirements
• Improved data accessibility and
responsiveness
• Increased productivity
• Improved maintenance through data
independence
• Increased concurrency
• Improved backup and recovery services

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Disadvantages of DBMSs
• Complexity
• Size
• Cost of DBMS
• Additional hardware costs
• Cost of conversion
• Performance
• Higher impact of a failure

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