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1-Introduction to Databases

This lecture provides an overview of database concepts, including the definition of databases, the role of Database Management Systems (DBMS), and the different types of database models. It discusses the functions of a DBMS, the various users involved, and the distinctions between relational and NoSQL databases. Additionally, it outlines potential careers in the database field.

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mthuramge99
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4 views

1-Introduction to Databases

This lecture provides an overview of database concepts, including the definition of databases, the role of Database Management Systems (DBMS), and the different types of database models. It discusses the functions of a DBMS, the various users involved, and the distinctions between relational and NoSQL databases. Additionally, it outlines potential careers in the database field.

Uploaded by

mthuramge99
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LECTURE 1

Databases
LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THIS
LECTURE
• GAIN A BROAD UNDERSTANDING OF DATABASE CONCEPTS
• GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF DATABASE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS AND THEIR FUNCTIONALITIES
• HAVE A LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF DATABASE SCHEMAS
• HAVE A LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF DATABASE USERS
• GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF DATABASE MODELS
• BE AWARE OF DATABASE CAREERS
What is a database?

A database is a collection of data

Management of a database is about a set of programs to


store and retrieve those data

A database management system (DBMS) is a collection


of inter-related data and set of programs to store and
access those data in an easy and effective manner

Examples of DBMS are Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft


Access, Oracle DB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, SQLite
DBMS

User
interface

User Database
interface
DBMS

User
interface
Database
DBMS EXAMPLE

Query: All students


in Computer
Science
Rhodes
Query: All staff at student
professorial grade profiles
DBMS

Query: Trade
Unionists
Rhodes
lecturer
profiles
Why do we need a DBMS?

It is developed for a large amount of data

The storage of data requires less space as


redundant data is removed

Data can be retrieved quickly


Functions of a DBMS

Multi-user access control – concurrent access to the


database without compromising its integrity

Backup and recovery management – data stored


separately

Integrity management – no direct access to raw data


but through an interface that accesses the raw data

Data representation – reporting meaningful


information to end users and management through
query systems
Who are the database users?

The primary user of a database is refereed to as a


SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR (SA) OR SUPER USER

The SA has the ability to connect to any database

Has the ability to alter, create or drop database


tables

Inserts, deletes or modifies all data on the system


Who are the database users?

THE DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR (DBA) manages


the schema of the database

The DBA monitors activities on user accounts

The database schema is the logical view of the


database, that is, how the data is organized in the
database and the relations among them
An example of a database schema for a Human Resource DB
Who are the database users?

• A
Can manipulate the data but cannot change
the schema of the database

They only have access to the basic


structured database query commands, i.e.
SQL queries

For example, to SELECT the names of people


over 25 years of age from the DB
Database models
 A model is an abstraction of a complex real
world object

 A DB model represents the data structures,


their characteristics, relationships, and
constraints

 Data is viewed differently by different people,


e.g., a company manager has an enterprise
view of the database; a clerk may have a view
of a specific application
Current Database Models
 Relational Databases – A collective set of
multiple data sets organised as tables, records and
columns

 Object Oriented Databases – data represented


in the form of objects

 NoSQL Databases (Not only SQL) is a class of a


DBMS that does not follow rules of a relational
database and cannot use traditional SQL e.g.
MongoDB, CouchDB
RELATIONAL MODEL

Relational databases – a collective set of multiple data sets organised by table, records and columns
RELATIONAL DATABASE MODEL
 The logical view of the relational model is enabled by the
creation of data relationships based on logical construct
called a table
 Table is 2-dimensional rows and columns
 Each table row (tuple) represents a single entity
occurrence
 Each table column (attribute or field) has a distinct name
 Each cell has a single value
 All values in a column must conform to the same data
format, e.g. integer, character
 Each table must have an attribute or combination of
attributes that uniquely identify each row
Object-oriented Model
Differences between Relational and NOSQL
SQL NoSQL

Relational DBMS Distributed DBMS

Vertically scalable (expand Horizontally scalable (expand


hardware) database servers)
Fixed or predefined schema Dynamic schema (unstructured
data)
Not suitable for hierarchical data Best suitable for hierarchical data
storage storage

Requires backfilling data Easy to add new data without


requiring prior steps
Database Roles and Jobs
 Systems Administrator – oversee DB systems operations
 DB Administrator - Monitors activities on DB user accounts
 DB Security Officer – Implements security policies for DB
Admin
 DB Designer/Architect – Design structure of the database to
simplify management and programming effort
 DB Analyst – Develops DB for decision support reporting
 Systems analyst / developer Design and implement the
application programs through which users interact with the
DB
 End Users. – People who use application programs to run an
organisations’ daily operations
CONCLUSION
• GAIN A BROAD UNDERSTANDING OF DATABASE CONCEPTS
• GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF DATABASE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS AND THEIR FUNCTIONALITIES
• HAVE A LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF DATABASE SCHEMAS
• HAVE A LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF DATABASE USERS
• GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF DATABASE MODELS
• BE AWARE OF DATABASE CAREERS

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