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Unit 1.2

The document compares traditional file approaches to database approaches and describes the three level architecture of a relational database management system (RDBMS). The three levels are the external, conceptual, and internal levels. The external level defines how users view the data, the conceptual level defines the overall database design, and the internal level defines how the data is physically stored. Mapping is used to transform requests between the levels and provide data independence between the conceptual and physical storage structures.

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76 views11 pages

Unit 1.2

The document compares traditional file approaches to database approaches and describes the three level architecture of a relational database management system (RDBMS). The three levels are the external, conceptual, and internal levels. The external level defines how users view the data, the conceptual level defines the overall database design, and the internal level defines how the data is physically stored. Mapping is used to transform requests between the levels and provide data independence between the conceptual and physical storage structures.

Uploaded by

Ughrisha V
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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I18303 -RELATIONAL

DATABASE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
UNIT – 1
INTRODUCTION
Comparison of Traditional file and Database
approach
Traditional File Vs Database Approach
Traditional File Approach Database Approach
Use separate data file for each application All Application shares a pool of related and
integrated data.
Data redundancy – independent data files included a Minimal data redundancy – Separate data files are
lot of duplicated data. integrated in to a single, logical structure.
Data inconsistency – several versions of the same Consistent data - Single version of data exist
data may exist.
Update must be done in all occurrences of same Single update is required.
data item in each file.
Users have very little opportunity to share data A database is developed to share the data among the
outside of their own application. user who access to it
There is no centralized control for overall data in There is centralized control for overall data in
different files. database.
Data dependence – description of files, records and Data independence – the database system separates
data items are embedded within individual application data descriptions from the application programs that
programs. use the data in it
Modification to data files requires the programs Data structure can be modified without changing
which access that file to be modified. the programs accessing the data
Lack of data integration – accessing data in several Data are organized in to a single logical structure with
files are difficult logical relationships defined between associated data
Difficult to manipulate data Easy to manipulate data
Three Level Architecture of DBMS
Three Level Architecture of DBMS
External Schema External Level External Level

External/Conceptual
Mapping
Conceptual Schema Conceptual Level

Conceptual/Internal
Mapping

Internal Schema Internal Level

Database
Three Level Architecture
• External level user/application view is defined by user/application
programmer in consultation with DBA.
• This architecture is divided into 3 levels:
(i) External Level
(ii) Conceptual Level
(iii) Internal Level
• The view at each level is described by a schema.
• Schema – an outline or a plan that describes the records &
relationships existing in a view.
External or user view

• External or user view is the highest level of database abstraction where only
those portions of the database are concerned to the user.
• ie. Application programs are included in the external view.
• Each external view is described by means of external schema.
External schema consists of:
• The definition of logical records
• The relationships in the external view
• The method of deriving the objects in the external view from the objects in the
conceptual view
• The objects includes entities, attributes & relationships.
Conceptual or Global View

• Represents the entire database.


• Defined by the conceptual schema.
• Conceptual schema describes all the records and relationships included in the
conceptual view & also in the database.
• There is only one conceptual schema per database.
• The conceptual schema also contains the method of deriving the objects in the
conceptual view from the objects in the internal view.
• The data description at this level is independent of its physical representation.
Internal view

• Internal view is the lowest level of abstraction.


• Very closest to the physical storage method used.
• Indicates how the data will be used & stored.
• Describes the data structures & access methods to be used by the database.
• Expressed by the internal schema, which contains the definition of the storage
record, the method of representing the data fields & the access aids used.
Mapping
• Mapping is used to transform the request and response between various
database levels of architecture.
• Two mappings are required in a database system with three different views:

• External / Conceptual mapping : to transform the request from external level


to conceptual level.
• Conceptual / Internal mapping : to transform the request from the
conceptual to internal level.
Data independence
There are two distinct levels of data independence:
• Logical data independence.
• Physical data independence.
Logical data independence: the conceptual schema can be changed without
affecting the existing external schema.
• combining two records into one or splitting an existing record into two or more
records.
Physical data independence: the physical storage structures or devices used for
storing the data could be changed without changing the conceptual view or any of
the external views.

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