Difference between File System and DBMS

File System Approach

File based systems were an early attempt to computerize the manual system. It is also
called a traditional based approach in which a decentralized approach was taken where
each department stored and controlled its own data with the help of a data processing
specialist. The main role of a data processing specialist was to create the necessary
computer file structures, and also manage the data within structures and design some
application programs that create reports based on file data.

In the above figure:

Consider an example of a student's file system. The student file will contain information
regarding the student (i.e. roll no, student name, course etc.). Similarly, we have a
subject file that contains information about the subject and the result file which contains
the information regarding the result.

Some fields are duplicated in more than one file, which leads to data redundancy. So to
overcome this problem, we need to create a centralized system, i.e. DBMS approach.

DBMS:
A database approach is a well-organized collection of data that are related in a
meaningful way which can be accessed by different users but stored only once in a
system. The various operations performed by the DBMS system are: Insertion, deletion,
selection, sorting etc.
In the above figure,

In the above figure, duplication of data is reduced due to centralization of data.

There are the following differences between DBMS and File systems:

Basis DBMS Approach File System Approach

The file system is a collectio

DBMS is a collection of data. In
data. In this system, the use
Meaning DBMS, the user is not required
has to write the procedures
to write the procedures.
managing the database.

Data is distributed in many f

Due to the centralized and it may be of different
Sharing of data
approach, data sharing is easy. formats, so it isn't easy to sh
data.

The file system provides the

DBMS gives an abstract view of
Data Abstraction detail of the data representa
data that hides the details.
and storage of data.

DBMS provides a good It isn't easy to protect a file

Security and Protection
protection mechanism. under the file system.
 The file system doesn't have
DBMS provides a crash
crash mechanism, i.e., if the
recovery mechanism, i.e.,
Recovery Mechanism system crashes while enterin
DBMS protects the user from
some data, then the content
system failure.
the file will be lost.

DBMS contains a wide variety of

The file system can't efficien
Manipulation Techniques sophisticated techniques to
store and retrieve the data.
store and retrieve the data.

In the File system, concurren

DBMS takes care of Concurrent access has many problems
Concurrency Problems access of data using some form redirecting the file while dele
of locking. some information or updatin
some information.

Database approach used in File system approach used i

Where to use large systems which interrelate large systems which interrel
many files. many files.

The database system is The file system approach is

Cost
expensive to design. cheaper to design.

In this, the files and applicat

Due to the centralization of the programs are created by
Data Redundancy and database, the problems of data different programmers so tha
Inconsistency redundancy and inconsistency there exists a lot of duplicati
are controlled. of data which may lead to
inconsistency.

The database structure is The file system approach ha

Structure
complex to design. simple structure.

In this system, Data

Independence exists, and it can
be of two types.
In the File system approach,
Data Independence
o Logical Data there exists no Data
Independence Independence.
o Physical Data
Independence
 Integrity Constraints are easy to Integrity Constraints are diffi
Integrity Constraints
apply. to implement in file system.

In the database approach, 3

types of data models exist:
In the file system approach,
Data Models o Hierarchal data models there is no concept of data
o Network data models models exists.
o Relational data models

Changes are often a necessity

to the content of the data stored The flexibility of the system i
Flexibility in any system, and these less as compared to the DBM
changes are more easily with a approach.
database approach.

Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase

Examples Cobol, C++ etc.
etc.