What is Database?
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| Database |
A database is a
collection of information that is organized so that it can easily be accessed,
managed, and updated. The data are typically organized to model relevant
aspects of reality in a way that supports processes requiring this information.
A database is similar to a data file in that it is a storage place for data. Like a data file, a database does not present information directly to a user; the user runs an application that accesses data from the database and presents it to the user in an understandable format.
Database systems are more powerful than data files. The data is more highly organized. In a well-designed database, there are no duplicate pieces of data that the user or application has to update at the same time. Related pieces of data are grouped together in a single structure or record, and relationships can be defined between these structures and records.
When working with data files, an application must be coded to work with the specific structure of each data file. In contrast, a database contains a catalog that applications use to determine how data is organized. Generic database applications can use the catalog to present users with data from different databases dynamically, without being tied to a specific data format.
A database typically has two components: the
files holding the physical database and the database management system (DBMS)
software that applications use to access data.
