Introduction to Databases

A database, in the most general sense, is an organized collection of data. More

specifically, a database is an electronic system that allows data to be easily
accessed, manipulated and updated.

File-based Data Management System

The systems that are used to organize and maintain data files are known as
file based data systems. These file systems are used to handle a single or
multiple files and are not very efficient.

Functionalities
The functionalities of a File-based Data Management System are as follows
−
 A file based system helps in basic data management for any
user.
 The data stored in the file based system should remain
consistent. Any transactions done in the file based system should
not alter the consistency property.
 The file based system should not allow any illegal or potentially
hazardous operations to occur on the data.
 The file based system should allow concurrent access by different
processes and this should be carefully coordinated.
 The file based system should make sure that the data is
uniformly structured and stored so it is easier to access it.
Advantages of File Based System
 The file Based system is not complicated and is simpler to use.
 Because of the above point, this system is quite inexpensive.
 Because the file based system is simple and cheap, it is normally
suitable for home users and owners of small businesses.
 Since the file based system is used by smaller organisations or
individual users, it stores comparatively lesser amount of data.
Hence, the data can be accessed faster and more easily.
Disadvantages of File Based System
 The File based system is limited to a smaller size and cannot store
large amounts of data.
 This system is relatively uncomplicated but this means it cannot
support complicated queries, data recovery etc.
 There may be redundant data in the file based system as it does not
have a complex mechanism to get rid of it.
  The data is not very secure in a file based system and may be
corrupted or destroyed.
 The data files in the file based system may be stored across multiple
locations. Consequently, it is difficult to share the data easily with
multiple users.

Characteristics of Database
Approach
1. Manages Information
A database always takes care of its information because information is always
helpful for whatever work we do. It manages all the information that is required
to us. Managing information by using a database, we become more deliberated
user of our data.
Also See: What is Database?
2. Easy Operation Implementation
All the operations like insert, delete, update, search etc. are carried out in a
flexible and easy way. Database makes it very simple to implement these
operations. A user with little knowledge can perform these operations. This
characteristic of database makes it more powerful.
3. Multiple Views of Database
Basically, a view is a subset of the database. A view is defined and devoted
for a particular user of the system. Different users of the system may have
different views of the same system.
4. Data For Specific Purpose
A database is designed for data of specific purpose. For example, a database
of student management system is designed to maintain the record of student’s
marks, fees and attendance etc. This data has a specific purpose of maintaining
student record.
5. It has Users of Specific Interest
A database always has some indented group of users and applications in which
these user groups are interested.
For example, in a library system, there are three users, official administration
of the college, the librarian, and the students.
6. Represent Some Aspects of Real World Applications
A database represents some features of real world applications. Any change in
the real world is reflected in the database. If we have some changes in our real
applications like railway reservation system then it will be reflected in database
too.
Purpose of Database Management Systems
A DBMS consists of the following three elements:

1. The physical database: the collection of files that contain the data
2. The database engine: the software that makes it possible to access and modify
the contents of the database
3. The database schema: the specification of the logical structure of the data
stored in the database

Functions of a DBMS
So, what does a DBMS really do? It organizes your files to give you more control over
your data.
A DBMS makes it possible for users to create, edit and update data in database files.
Once created, the DBMS makes it possible to store and retrieve data from those
database files.
More specifically, a DBMS provides the following functions:

 Concurrency: concurrent access (meaning 'at the same time') to the same
database by multiple users
 Security: security rules to determine access rights of users
 Backup and recovery: processes to back-up the data regularly and recover data if
a problem occurs
 Integrity: database structure and rules improve the integrity of the data
 Data descriptions: a data dictionary provides a description of the data

Within an organization, the development of the database is typically controlled

by database administrators (DBAs) and other specialists. This ensures the database
structure is efficient and reliable.
Database administrators also control access and security aspects. For example,
different people within an organization use databases in different ways. Some
employees may simply want to view the data and perform basic analysis. Other
employees are actively involved in adding data to the database or updating existing
data. This means that the database administrator needs to set the user permissions.
You don't want someone who only needs to view the database to accidentally delete
parts of the database.

Advantages Of Database
 Further developed information sharing: A benefit of the
database administration approach is, the DBMS assists with
 establishing a climate where end clients have better
admittance to more and better-oversaw information. Such
access makes it workable for end clients to react rapidly to
changes in their current circumstances.
 Further developed information security: The more clients
access the information, the more noteworthy the dangers of
information security breaks. Partnerships contribute
significant measures of time, exertion, and cash to
guarantee that corporate information is utilized
appropriately. A DBMS gives a system to better
authorization of information protection and security
arrangements.
 Better information reconciliation: More extensive admittance
to very much overseen information advances a coordinated
perspective on the association’s tasks and a more clear
perspective on the 10,000 foot view. It turns out to be a lot
more straightforward to perceive what activities in a single
fragment of the organization mean for different sections.
 Limited information irregularity: Information irregularity
exists when various renditions of similar information show up in
better places. For instance, information irregularity exists when
an organization’s outreach group stores a salesman’s name as
“Bill Brown” and the organization’s staff retail chains that
equivalent individual’s name as “William G. Brown,” or when the
organization’s local deals office shows the cost of an item as
$45.95 and its public deals office shows a similar item’s cost as
$43.95. The likelihood of information irregularity is incredibly
decreased in an appropriately planned database.
 Further developed information access: The DBMS makes it
conceivable to create fast solutions to impromptu inquiries.
According to an information base viewpoint, a question is a
particular solicitation gave to the DBMS for information control,
for instance, to peruse or refresh the information. Basically, an
inquiry is an inquiry, and an impromptu question is a
spontaneous inquiry. The DBMS sends back a response (called
the inquiry result set) to the application.
 Further developed independent direction: Better-oversaw
information and further developed information access make it
conceivable to create better-quality data, on which better choices
are based.
Disadvantages Of Database
Albeit the database framework yields impressive benefits over past
information the executives draws near, database frameworks in all
actuality do convey critical hindrances.

 Expanded expenses: one of the disservices of DBMS is

Database frameworks require refined equipment and
programming and a profoundly talented work force. The
expense of keeping up with the equipment, programming,
and staff expected to work and deal with an information
base framework can be significant. Preparing, permitting,
and guideline consistence costs are regularly neglected
when database frameworks are executed.
 The board intricacy: Information base frameworks
connect with a wide range of innovations and essentially
affect an organization’s assets and culture. The
progressions presented by the reception of a database
framework should be appropriately figured out how to
guarantee that they assist with propelling the organization’s
targets. Given the way that information base frameworks
hold critical organization information that are gotten to from
numerous sources, security issues should be evaluated
continually.
 Keeping up with money: To amplify the effectiveness of
the information base framework, you should keep your
framework current. In this way, you should perform
incessant updates and apply the most recent patches and
safety efforts to all parts. Since database innovation propels
quickly, faculty preparing costs will more often than not be
critical

Different types of Database Users

Database users are categorized based up on their interaction with the data
base.
These are seven types of data base users in DBMS.
1. Database Administrator (DBA) :
Database Administrator (DBA) is a person/team who defines the
schema and also controls the 3 levels of database.
The DBA will then create a new account id and password for the user
if he/she need to access the data base.
DBA is also responsible for providing security to the data base and he
allows only the authorized users to access/modify the data base.
 DBA also monitors the recovery and back up and provide
technical support.
 The DBA has a DBA account in the DBMS which called a
system or superuser account.
 DBA repairs damage caused due to hardware and/or
software failures.

2. Naive / Parametric End Users :

Parametric End Users are the unsophisticated who don’t have any
DBMS knowledge but they frequently use the data base applications in
their daily life to get the desired results.
For examples, Railway’s ticket booking users are naive users. Clerks
in any bank is a naive user because they don’t have any DBMS
knowledge but they still use the database and perform their given task.

3. System Analyst :
System Analyst is a user who analyzes the requirements of parametric
end users. They check whether all the requirements of end users are
satisfied.

4. Sophisticated Users :
Sophisticated users can be engineers, scientists, business analyst,
who are familiar with the database. They can develop their own data
base applications according to their requirement. They don’t write the
program code but they interact the data base by writing SQL queries
directly through the query processor.

5. Data Base Designers :

Data Base Designers are the users who design the structure of data
base which includes tables, indexes, views, constraints, triggers,
 stored procedures. He/she controls what data must be stored and how
the data items to be related.

6. Application Program :
Application Program are the back end programmers who writes the
code for the application programs.They are the computer
professionals. These programs could be written in Programming
languages such as Visual Basic, Developer, C, FORTRAN, COBOL
etc.

7. Casual Users / Temporary Users :

Casual Users are the users who occasionally use/access the data
base but each time when they access the data base they require the
new information, for example, Middle or higher level manager.

Role, Duties and Responsibilities of

database Administrator( DBA)
A database administrator (DBA) is a person or group in charge of
implementing DBMS in an organization. The DBA job requires a high degree
of technical expertise. DBA consists of a team of people rather than just one
person.
The primary role of Database administrator is as follows −
 Database design
 Performance issues
 Database accessibility
 Capacity issues
 Data replication
 Table Maintenance
Responsibilities of DBA
The responsibilities of DBA are as follows −
 Makes the decision concerning the content of the database.
 Plans the storage structure and access strategy.
 Provides the support to the users.
 Defines the security and integrity checks.
 Interpreter backup and recovery strategies.
 Monitoring the performance and responding to the changes in the
requirements.
Skills required for DBA
The skills required to be a successful DBA are as follows −
 Database designing.
 Knowledge of Structured Query Language (SQL).
 Know about distributed architecture.
 Knowledge on different operating servers.
 Idea on Relational Database Management System (RDBMS).
 Ready to face challenges and solve the problems quickly.

History of DBMS
Data is a collection of facts and figures. The data collection was increasing day
to day and they needed to be stored in a device or a software which is safer.
Charles Bachman was the first person to develop the Integrated Data Store
(IDS) which was based on network data model for which he was inaugurated
with the Turing Award (The most prestigious award which is equivalent to Nobel
prize in the field of Computer Science.). It was developed in early 1960’s.
In the late 1960’s, IBM (International Business Machines Corporation)
developed the Integrated Management Systems which is the standard database
system used till date in many places. It was developed based on the
hierarchical database model. It was during the year 1970 that the relational
database model was developed by Edgar Codd. Many of the database models
we use today are relational based. It was considered the standardized database
model from then.
The relational model was still in use by many people in the market.Later during
the same decade (1980’s), IBM developed the Structured Query Language
(SQL) as a part of R project. It was declared as a standard language for the
queries by ISO and ANSI. The Transaction Management Systems for
processing transactions was also developed by James Gray for which he was
felicitated the Turing Award.
Further, there were many other models with rich features like complex queries,
datatypes to insert images and many others. The Internet Age has perhaps
influenced the data models much more. Data models were developed using
object oriented programming features, embedding with scripting languages
like Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) for queries. With humongous data being
available online, DBMS is gaining more significance day by day.

When Not to Use a DBMS

Main inhibitors (costs) of using a DBMS:
 High initial investment and possible need for additional hardware.
  Overhead for providing generality, security, concurrency
control, recovery, and integrity functions.
When a DBMS may be unnecessary:
 If the database and applications are simple, well defined,
and not expected to change.
If there are stringent real-time requirement
 s that may not be met because of DBMS overhead.
 If access to data by multiple users is not required.
When no DBMS may suffice:If the database system is
not able to handle the complexity of data because of
modeling limitations
 If the database users need special operations not supported by
the DBMS.