Chapter 1

Database Systems
 Learning Objectives

• After completing this chapter, you will be able to:

• Define the difference between data and information
• Describe what a database is, various types, and why they are valuable assets for
decision making
• Explain the importance of database design
• See how modern databases evolved from file systems
• Understand flaws in file system data management
• Outline the main components of the database system
• Describe the main functions of a database management system (DBMS)

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Why Databases?

• Characteristics of data in today’s world

• Ubiquitous (i.e., abundant, global, and everywhere)
• Pervasive (i.e., unescapable, prevalent, and persistent)
• Databases make data persistent and shareable in a secure way
• Specialized structures that allow computer-based systems to store, manage, and
retrieve data very quickly

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Data versus Information

• Data consists of raw facts

• Not yet processed to reveal meaning to the end user
• Building blocks of information
• Information results from processing raw data to reveal meaning
• Requires context
• Bedrock of knowledge
• Should be accurate, relevant, and timely

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Introducing the Database

• Shared, integrated computer structure that stores data

• End-user data: raw facts of interest to end user
• Metadata: data about data, through which the end-user data is integrated and
managed
- Describes data characteristics and relationships

• Database management system (DBMS)

• Collection of programs
• Manages the database structure
• Controls access to data stored in the database

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Role and Advantages of the DBMS (1 of 2)

• Database management system (DBMS): intermediary between the user and the
database
• Enables data to be shared
• Presents the end user with an integrated view of data
• Provides more efficient and effective data management
• Improves sharing, security, integration, access, decision-making, productivity, etc.

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Role and Advantages of the DBMS (2 of 2)

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Types of Databases (1 of 5)

• Single-user database: supports one user at a time

• Desktop database: single-user database on a personal computer
• Multiuser database: supports multiple users at the same time
• Workgroup databases: supports a small number of users or a specific department
• Enterprise database: supports many users across many departments

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Types of Databases (2 of 5)

• Classification by location
• Centralized database: data located at a single site
• Distributed database: data distributed across different sites
• Cloud database: created and maintained using cloud data services that provide
defined performance measures for the database

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Types of Databases (3 of 5)

• Classification by data type

• General-purpose database: contains a wide variety of data used in multiple disciplines
• Discipline-specific database: contains data focused on specific subject areas

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Types of Databases (4 of 5)

• Classification based on how the data will be used

• Operational database: designed to support a company’s day-to-day operations
• Analytical database: stores historical data and business metrics used exclusively for
tactical or strategic decision-making
- Data warehouse: stores data in a format optimized for decision support
- Online analytical processing (OLAP): tools for retrieving, processing, and modeling
data from the data warehouse
- Business intelligence: captures and processes business data to generate information
that supports decision-making

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Types of Databases (5 of 5)

• Databases can be classified to reflect the degree to which the data is structured
• Unstructured data exists in its original (raw) state
• Structured data results from formatting
- Structure is applied based on type of processing to be performed
• Semistructured data: processed to some extent
• Extensible Markup Language (XML)
• Represents data elements in textual format

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Why Database Design Is Important

• Focuses on design of database structure that will be used to store and manage
end-user data
• Well-designed database: facilitates data management and generates accurate and
valuable information
• Poorly designed database: causes difficult-to-trace errors that may lead to poor
decision making

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Evolution of File System Data Processing (1 of 3)

• Manual file systems

• Accomplished through a system of file folders and filing cabinets
• Computerized file systems
• Data processing (DP) specialist created a computer-based system to track data and
produce required reports
• File system redux: modern end-user productivity tools
• Includes spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel

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rotected website for classroom use.
Evolution of File System Data Processing (2 of 3)

Table 1.2 Basic File Terminology

TERM DEFINITION
Data Raw facts, such as a telephone number, a birth date, a customer name, and a year-to-date
(YTD) sales value. Data has little meaning unless it has been organized in some logical
manner.

Field A character or group of characters (alphabetic or numeric) that has a specific meaning. A field
is used to define and store data.

Record A logically connected set of one or more fields that describes a person, place, or thing. For
example, the fields that constitute a record for a customer might consist of the customer’s
name, address, phone number, date of birth, credit limit, and unpaid balance.

File A collection of related records. For example, a file might contain data about the students
currently enrolled at Gigantic University.

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rotected website for classroom use.
Evolution of File System Data Processing (3 of 3)

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Problems with File System Data Processing

• Problems with file systems challenge the types of information that can be
created from data as well as information accuracy
• Lengthy development times
• Difficulty of getting quick answers
• Complex system administration
• Lack of security and limited data sharing
• Extensive programming

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Data Redundancy (1 of 2)

• Unnecessarily storing the same data at different places

• Islands of information (i.e., scattered data locations)
• Increases the probability of having different versions of the same data

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 Data Redundancy (2 of 2)

• Possible results of uncontrolled data redundancy

• Poor data security
• Data inconsistency
• Data-entry errors
• Data integrity problems

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Data Anomalies

• Develop when not all of the required changes in the redundant data are made
successfully
• Update anomalies
• Insertion anomalies
• Deletion anomalies

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rotected website for classroom use.
 Database Systems (1 of 2)

• Logically related data stored in a single logical data repository

• Physically distributed among multiple storage facilities
• DBMS eliminates most of file system’s data inconsistency, data anomaly, data
dependence, and structural dependence problems
• Current generation DBMS software
- Stores data structures, relationships between structures, and access paths
- Defines, stores, and manages all access paths and components

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rotected website for classroom use.
Database Systems (2 of 2)

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 The Database System Environment (1 of 2)

• Database system: organization of components that define and regulate the

collection, storage, management, and use of data within a database
environment
• Hardware
• Software
• People
• Procedures
• Data

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The Database System Environment (2 of 2)

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rotected website for classroom use.
 DBMS Functions (1 of 3)

• Data dictionary management

• Data dictionary: stores definitions of data elements and their relationships
• Data storage management
• Performance tuning ensures efficient performance
• Data transformation and presentation
• Data is formatted to conform to logical expectations
• Security management
• Enforces user security and data privacy

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rotected website for classroom use.
 DBMS Functions (2 of 3)

• Multiuser access control

• Sophisticated algorithms ensure that multiple users can access the database
concurrently without compromising its integrity
• Backup and recovery management
• Enables recovery of the database after a failure
• Data integrity management
• Minimizes redundancy and maximizes consistency

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rotected website for classroom use.
 DBMS Functions (3 of 3)

• Database access languages and application programming interfaces

• Query language: lets the user specify what must be done without having to specify
how
• Structured Query Language (SQL): de facto query language and data access standard
supported by the majority of DBMS vendors
• Database communication interfaces
• Accept end-user requests via multiple, different network environments

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 Managing the Database System: A Shift in Focus

• Disadvantages of database systems

• Increased costs
• Management complexity
• Maintaining currency
• Vendor dependence
• Frequent upgrade/replacement cycles

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