Database Management Systems

Evolution of Database Management Systems

A database management system (DBMS) allows a person to organize, store, and retrieve data
from a computer. In a database, information is stored in the form of tables that may or may not
be interrelated. It is a way of communicating with a computer’s “stored memory”. Basically it
can be pointed out that database is a compilation of database files and each database file is
further a collection of records.

In the very early years of computers, “punch cards” were used for input, output, and data storage.
Punch cards offered a fast way to enter data and retrieve it. Herman Hollerith is given credit for
adapting the punch cards used for weaving looms to act as the memory for a mechanical
tabulating machine, in 1890. Much later, databases came along.

What really turned relational DBMSs into reliable, performant, scalable production tools was the
advent of robust query optimizers. In 1979, Patricia Selinger of the IBM research center in San
Jose described the optimizer of the IBM System R. Optimizer technologies matured during the
1980’s and established the “relational empire” around 1990. (geeksforgeeks, 2022)

What is a DBMS

As indicated somewhat above, a database management system (DBMS) is middleware that

allows programmers, database administrators (DBAs), software applications, and end users to
store, organize, access, query, and manipulate data in a database.In the enterprise, database
management systems provide database administrators (DBAs) with a structured framework that
facilitates data sharing among different departments, teams and applications. The DBMS
provides employees with controlled and organized access to data that they can use to drive
innovation and help their company maintain a competitive edge.Database Management Systems
(DBMSs) are categorized according to their data structures or types.This helps provide data
security, data integrity, concurrency, and uniform data administration procedures.Database
management systems can be classified based on a variety of criteria such as the data model, the
database distribution, or user numbers. The most widely used types of DBMS software are
relational, distributed, hierarchical, object-oriented, and network. (techopedia, 2023)

Earlier, databases could only manage distinct, individually prepared chunks of data. Today’s
sophisticated systems can handle various types of less structured data and connect them in more
complex ways. End users can now create, protect, read, update, and remove data in a database
with the help of a DBMS. (techopedia, 2023)
 Main Types of Database Management Systems

There are four main types of database management systems.

1. Hierarchical database
2. Network database
3. Contact database
4. Object-oriented database

1.Hierarchical DBMS

An example of a hierarchical database is data organized in a tree-like structure. Data is stored in

a hierarchical manner. Data is represented using a parent-child relationship. (spiceworks, 2022)

2.Network model
Network database model Each child can have multiple parents. It helps you to solve the need to
model more complex relationships like order/parts many-to-many relationships. In this model,
entities are organized in a graph that can be accessed through several paths. (spiceworks, 2022)

3.Relationship model

Relational DBMS is the most widely used DBMS model and is one of the easiest. This model is
based on the normalization of the data in the rows and columns of the tables. The relational
model is stored in static structures and manipulated using SQL. A separate explanation has been
made about this below. (spiceworks, 2022)

4.Object-oriented model

In Object-Oriented Model, data is stored in the form of objects. Structures are called classes that
display data within it. It is one aspect of DBMS that defines a database as a collection of objects
that store both values and operations of data members. Images and other media types that one
cannot keep in a relational database are included in multimedia databases. (spiceworks, 2022)

Characteristics and properties of a database management system

● Provides protection and removes excess

● Self-describing nature of a database system
● Insulation between programs and data abstraction
● Providing support for multiple views of data.
● Data sharing and multi-user transaction processing
● Database management software allows entities and relationships to be created in tables
● It follows the ACID concept (atomicity, consistency, isolation and durability).
● A DBMS supports a multi-user environment that allows users to access and manipulate
data in parallel.

Relational DBMS

A relational database management system (RDBMS) is one of the most popular database
systems among organizations worldwide and is a collection of programs and capabilities that
enable technology teams and others to create, update, administer, and otherwise interact with a
relational database. It offers a combination of system performance and ease of operation while
providing a reliable method for storing and retrieving large amounts of data. Relational DBMS is
based on the relational model that represents data as tables with rows and columns. RDBMSs
store data in tabular form, with most commercial relational database management systems using
Structured Query Language (SQL) to access the database (OCI, 2023)

Popular DBMS Software

● MySQL
● Microsoft Access
● Oracle
● PostgreSQL
● dBASE
● FoxPro
● SQLite
● IBM DB2
● LibreOffice Base (spiceworks, 2022)
MySQL

This is an open source relational database management system (RDBMS) with a client-server
structure.Even developers consider MySQL a database with a human-like language. One of
MySQL's drawbacks is the scalability embedded in its code, which was not taken into account
when it was developed. (spiceworks, 2022)

Microsoft Access

Microsoft's DBMS, called Access, integrates a graphical user interface, software development
tools, and the associated Microsoft Jet Database Engine.The advantages of MS Access include
its quick and easy creation of a fully effective relational database management system, ease of
importing data from many sources, and simplicity of customization to suit individual and
business needs. (spiceworks, 2022)

Oracle

It is the company's fourth attempt at developing a relational database management system.Large

enterprises, especially, can store large volumes of data on the Oracle database. In addition, it
supports adaptive and shared structured query language (SQL) and locking. (spiceworks, 2022)
PostgreSQL

The open source database management system PostgreSQL is designed for businesses.For
flexibility and SQL compatibility, it allows both relational and non-relational queries in SQL and
JSON.All popular operating systems, including Linux, UNIX, and Windows, support
PostgreSQL. It also goes by the name Postgres. (spiceworks, 2022)

Data Administrator

As a data administrator, they support the marketing, sales, finance, and operations departments
by providing accurate, complete, and current data on customer, product, inventory, and vendor
data.Database administrators (also known as database managers).Companies take care of
databases so that information is stored securely and is only accessible to authorized
personnel.Database administrators must also ensure that these individuals can access the
information they need when they need it, and that it is in the format they need. (TargetJobs,
2023)

Database Designer

'What is a database designer?'A database architect is in charge of designing, developing,

implementing, and maintaining a company's data management systems.You can look at their
various daily tasks that range from creating to maintaining an organization's database to facilitate
their performance.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Database Management Systems

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