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Additional Notes - Data Abstraction

Data abstraction is the process of simplifying data by focusing on essential characteristics and removing unnecessary details. It is usually the first step in database design, allowing developers to start with simplified data models and incrementally add more detail. There are three levels of data abstraction: the internal/physical level describes how data is actually stored; the conceptual/logical level describes what data is stored through fields and attributes; and the external/view level describes how users interact with the database through graphical interfaces without knowing the underlying storage details. Data abstraction hides complexities and allows developers and users to work with simplified representations appropriate for their roles.

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Fatin Izzatul Husna bt Muhd Hasmawi
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35 views

Additional Notes - Data Abstraction

Data abstraction is the process of simplifying data by focusing on essential characteristics and removing unnecessary details. It is usually the first step in database design, allowing developers to start with simplified data models and incrementally add more detail. There are three levels of data abstraction: the internal/physical level describes how data is actually stored; the conceptual/logical level describes what data is stored through fields and attributes; and the external/view level describes how users interact with the database through graphical interfaces without knowing the underlying storage details. Data abstraction hides complexities and allows developers and users to work with simplified representations appropriate for their roles.

Uploaded by

Fatin Izzatul Husna bt Muhd Hasmawi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Data Abstraction

Definition of Data Abstraction


Data abstraction is the reduction of a particular body of data to a simplified representation of
the whole.
Abstraction, in general, is the process of taking away or removing characteristics from something
in order to reduce it to a set of essential characteristics. As in abstract art, the representation is
likely to be one potential abstraction of a number of possibilities. A database abstraction layer,
for example, is one of a number of such possibilities.
Data abstraction is usually the first step in database design. A complete database is much too
complex a system to be developed without first creating a simplified framework. Data
abstraction makes it possible for the developer to start from essential elements -- data
abstractions -- and incrementally add data detail to create the final system.

https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/data-abstraction
Level of Data Abstraction
◦ In database, there are 3 level of abstraction:
1. Internal Level (Physical)
2. Conceptual Level (Logical)
3. External Level (View)
Internal/Physical Level
This is the lowest level of data abstraction.
It describes how data is actually stored in database (stored record). You can get the complex data
structure details at this level.
Let’s say we are storing customer information in a customer table. At internal/physical level these
records can be described as blocks of storage (bytes, gigabytes, terabytes etc.) in memory. These
details are often hidden from the programmers.
For example, in this class (ICT450), when
you do your project, you will create the DB
system using DBMS. You don’t need to
worry how data is stored, the DBMS will
help you.
You only need to design and create the DB
system (in conceptual/logical level).
Conceptual/Logical Level
This is the middle level of 3-level data abstraction architecture.
It describes what data is stored in database.
Let’s say we are storing customer information in a customer table. At the conceptual/logical level
these records can be described as fields and attributes along with their data types, their
relationship among each other can be logically implemented. The programmers generally work at
this level because they are aware of such things about database systems.

For example, in this class (ICT450), you


design the DB using ERD
External/View Level
Highest level of data abstraction.
This level describes the user interaction with database system.
Let’s say we are storing customer information in a customer table. At view level, user just interact
with system with the help of GUI and enter the details at the screen, they are not aware of how
the data is stored and what data is stored; such details are hidden from them.

For example, in this class (ICT450), when


you do your project, you will create
interfaces (forms/reports) for user to
interact with the DB system

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