Database Systems Overview

Role of a Database Management System (DBMS)

• Acts as an intermediary between users and databases, facilitating data management, storage, and retrieval.
• Provides tools for data administration, including backup, security, and data integrity enforcement.
• Supports multiple users accessing the database simultaneously while managing data concurrency.

Storage of Small Databases

• Typically stored within file systems or portable media, such as USB drives or local hard drives.
• Often implemented as single files or lightweight systems for ease of access and management.
• Can use simple data structures such as text files, CSV, or specialized formats like SQLite.

Characteristics of Relational Databases

• Data is organized in tables (relations), with rows representing records and columns representing attributes.
• Supports structured query language (SQL) for querying and manipulating data.
• Enforces relationships between tables through primary and foreign keys, ensuring data integrity.

Differences Between Non-relational and Relational Databases

• Non-relational databases (NoSQL) do not require a fixed schema, allowing for dynamic and flexible data structures.
• They often store data in formats like key-value pairs, documents, wide-columns, or graphs, supporting unstructured and semi-structured data.
• Non-relational databases are designed for horizontal scaling, making them suitable for handling large volumes of data across distributed systems.

Key Consideration in Database Design

• Focuses on data normalization to minimize redundancy and ensure data integrity, which improves query efficiency and reduces anomalies.
• Requires understanding of the intended use cases and access patterns to optimize schema and performance.
• Involves balancing factors such as scalability, security, and user access to meet application requirements.

Test your knowledge about database systems, including the components, functions, and use of a database management system (DBMS). Explore the organization and administration of databases, as well as the interaction with end users and applications.