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DBMS 5

Database schema defines the logical structure of a database, including the entities, attributes, and relationships. It consists of both a physical schema that defines how data is stored, and a logical schema that defines constraints on the data. A database instance is a snapshot of the operational database containing actual data at a point in time, which can change over time as the DBMS maintains data validity.

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44 views

DBMS 5

Database schema defines the logical structure of a database, including the entities, attributes, and relationships. It consists of both a physical schema that defines how data is stored, and a logical schema that defines constraints on the data. A database instance is a snapshot of the operational database containing actual data at a point in time, which can change over time as the DBMS maintains data validity.

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DBMS - Data Schemas

Database Schema
A database schema is the skeleton structure that represents the logical view of the entire
database. It defines how the data is organized and how the relations among them are associated.
It formulates all the constraints that are to be applied on the data.

A database schema defines its entities and the relationship among them. It contains a descriptive
detail of the database, which can be depicted by means of schema diagrams. It’s the database
designers who design the schema to help programmers understand the database and make it
useful.

A database schema can be divided broadly into two categories −

Physical Database Schema − This schema pertains to the actual storage of data and its
form of storage like files, indices, etc. It defines how the data will be stored in a secondary
storage.

Logical Database Schema − This schema defines all the logical constraints that need to be
applied on the data stored. It defines tables, views, and integrity constraints.
Database Instance
It is important that we distinguish these two terms individually. Database schema is the skeleton
of database. It is designed when the database doesn't exist at all. Once the database is
operational, it is very difficult to make any changes to it. A database schema does not contain any
data or information.

A database instance is a state of operational database with data at any given time. It contains a
snapshot of the database. Database instances tend to change with time. A DBMS ensures that its
every instance (state) is in a valid state, by diligently following all the validations, constraints, and
conditions that the database designers have imposed.

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