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Define the following terms.

Data
Data is raw, unorganized facts that need to be processed.
Or
Data: Facts, figures, statistics etc. having no particular meaning (e.g. 1, ABC, 19
etc).

Record: Collection of related data items, e.g. in the above example the
three data items had no
meaning. But if we organize them in the following way, then they collectively
represent meaningful
information.
Roll Name Age
1 ABC 19

Table or Relation: Collection of related records.

Roll Name Age

1 ABC 19
2 DEF 22
3 XYZ 28

The columns of this relation are called Fields, Attributes or Domains. The rows are
called Tuples
or Records.
Database: Collection of related relations. Consider the following collection of
tables:
T1 T2
Roll Name Age Roll Address
ABC 19 KOL
DEF 22 DEL
XYZ 28 MUM

T3 T4
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We now have a collection of 4 tables. They can be called a “related collection” because
we can clearly find out that there are some common attributes existing in a
selected pair of tables. Because of these common attributes we may combine
the data of two or more tables together to find out the complete details of a
student. Questions like “Which hostel does the youngest student live in?” can be
answered now, although
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Age and Hostel attributes are in different tables.

A database in a DBMS could be viewed by lots of different people with different

responsibilities.

Figure 1.1: Empolyees are accessing Data through DBMS

For example, within a company there are different departments, as well as

customers, who each need to see different kinds of data. Each employee in the
company will have different levels of access to the database with their own
customized front-end application.

In a database, data is organized strictly in row and column format. The rows are called
Tuple or Record. The data items within one row may belong to different data types.
On the other hand, the columns are often called Domain or Attribute or Fields. All
the data items within a single attribute are of the same data type.
Information:-
When data is processed, organized, structured or presented
in a given context so as to make it useful, it is called
information.
Example:-A student secures 450 marks. Here 450 is data,
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marks of the student is the information.
DATA DATA DATA

Processing

Information

Database
A Database is a collection of inter-related data.
DBMS (Database Management System)
A database management system is a collection of inter-
related data and set of programs to manipulate those data.
DBMS = Database + Set of programs
A simple example of a university database.

This database is maintaining information about students,

courses, and grades in a university environment.

The database is organized as five files:

 The STUDENT file stores the data of each student

 The COURSE file stores contain data on each course.
 The SECTION stores information about sections in a particular
course.
 The GRADE file stores the grades which students receive in the
various sections
 The TUTOR file contains information about each professor.

Metadata
Metadata is data about data.
Data such as table name, column name, data type,
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authorized user and user access for any table is called
metadata for that table.
Example :-Table metadata(The names, data types,
constraints for columns for a table)
Table named “customers” might have columns for
“customer ID”(integer,primary key)”First name”(varchar) and
“last name”(varchar).

Data dictionary
Data dictionary is information which contains metadata.
It is usually a part of the system catalog.
Data warehouse
Data warehouse is information which stored data.
It is design to facilitate reporting and analysis.
Field
A field is a character or group of characters that have a specific
meaning.
It is also called a data item. It is represented in the database by a
value.
For Example customer id, name, society and city are all fields for
customer Data.

Record
A record is a collection of logically related fields.
For examples, collection of fields (id, name, society & city) forms
a record for customer.

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Explain disadvantages of file system (file processing
systems) compare to Database management system.
OR
Explain disadvantages of conventional file-based
system compared to Database management system.
Data Redundancy
It is possible that the same information may be duplicated in
different files. This leads to data redundancy.
Data redundancy results in memory wastage.
For example, consider that some customers have both
kinds of accounts - saving and current. In this case, data
about customers - name, address, e-mail, contact number -

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Will be duplicated in both files, file for saving accounts and file
for current accounts. This leads to requirement of higher
storage space. In other words, same information will be
stored in two different locations (files). And, it wastes
memory.
Data Inconsistency
Due to data redundancy, it is possible that data may not be in
consistent state.
For example, consider that an address of some customer
changes. And, that customer has both kinds of accounts.
Now, it is possible that this changed address is updated in
only one file, leaving address in other file as it is. As a result
of this, same customer will have two different addresses in
two different files, making data inconsistent.
Difficulty in Accessing Data
Accessing data is not convenient and efficient in file processing
system.
For example, suppose, there is a program to find information
about all customers. But, what if there is a need to find out
all customers from some particular city. In this case, there
are two choices here: One, find out all customers using
available program, and then extract the needed customers
manually. Second, develop new program to get required
information. Both options are not satisfactory.
For each and every different kind of data access, separate
programs are required. This is neither convenient nor
efficient.
Limited Data Sharing
Data are scattered (distrubted) in various files.
Different files may have different formats. And these files
may be stored in different folders (directories) may be of
different computers of different departments.
So, due to this data isolation, it is difficult to share data among
different applications.
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Integrity Problems
Data integrity means that the data contained in the database
is both correct and consistent. For this purpose, the data
stored in database must satisfy certain types of constraints
(rules).
For example, a balance for any account must not be less
than zero. Such constraints are enforced in the system by
adding appropriate code in application programs. But, when
new constraints are added, such as balance should not be
less than Rs. 5000, application programs need to be
changed. But, it is not an easy task to change programs
whenever required.
Atomicity Problems
Any operation on database must be atomic. This means,
operation completes either 100% or 0%.
For example, a fund transfer from one account to another
must happen in its entirely. But, computer systems are
vulnerable to failure, such as system crash, virus attack. If a
system failure occurs during the execution of fund transfer
operation, it may possible that amount to be transferred, say,
Rs. 500, is debited from one account, but is not credited to
another account.

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This leaves database in inconsistent state. But, it is difficult

to ensure atomicity in a file processing system.
Concurrent Access Anomalies
Multiple users are allowed to access data simultaneously
(concurrently). This is for the sake of better performance and
faster response.
Consider an operation to debit (withdrawal) an account. The
program reads the old balance, calculates the new balance,
and writes new balance back to database. Suppose an
account has a balance of Rs. 5000. Now, a concurrent
withdrawal of Rs. 1000 and Rs. 2000 may leave the balance
Rs. 4000 or Rs. 3000 depending upon their completion time
rather than the correct value of Rs. 2000.
Here, concurrent data access should be allowed under some
supervision.
But, due to lack of co-ordination among different application
programs, this is not possible in file processing systems.
Security Problems
Database should be accessible to users in a limited way.
Each user should be allowed to access data concerning his
application only.
For example, a customer can check balance only for his/her
own account. He/She should not have access for information
about other accounts.
But, in file processing system, application programs are
added in an ad hoc manner by different programmers. So, it
is difficult to enforce such kind of security constraints.
Explain advantages (benefits) of DBMS over file
management system.OR
Explain purpose of database system.
Minimal Data Redundancy (Duplication)
Due to centralized database, it is possible to avoid
unnecessary duplication of information.
This leads to reduce data redundancy.
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It prevents memory wastage.
It also reduces extra processing time to get required data.
Shared Data
All authorized user and application program can share database
easily.
Data Consistency
Data inconsistency occurs due to data redundancy.
With reduced data redundancy such type of data inconsistency
can be eliminated.
This results in improved data consistency.
Data Access
DBMS utilizes a variety of techniques to retrieve data.
Required data can be retrieved by providing appropriate query to
the DBMS.
Thus, data can be accessed in convenient and efficient manner.

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Data Integrity
Data in database must be correct and consistent.
So, data stored in database must satisfy certain types of
constraints (rules).
DBMS provides different ways to implement such type of
constraints (rules).
This improves data integrity in a database.
Data Security
Database should be accessible to user in a limited way.
DBMS provides way to control the access to data
for different user according to their requirement.
It prevents unauthorized access to data.
Thus, security can be improved.
Concurrent Access
Multiple users are allowed to access data
simultaneously.
Concurrent access to centralized data can be allowed
under some supervision.
This results in better performance of system and faster
response.
Guaranteed Atomicity
Any operation on database must be atomic. This
means, operation must be executed either 100% or
0%.
This type of atomicity is guaranteed in DBMS.

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