Evolution of DBMS: Database Management System Quiz and Flashcards

Study Notes

What is a Database Management System (DBMS)?

A DBMS is a group of tools that enable users to access databases and manage, update, report, and relate data.
It helps to reduce issues with data integrity, data redundancy, and data sharing.
A DBMS is mainly software; it is not an information system.

Evolution of Database Management System

The primary goal of a database is to efficiently store and retrieve data.
Databases evolved through the following stages:
- Flat Files (1970s-1990s): simple, but had drawbacks in terms of data redundancy and access complexity.
- Hierarchical DBMS (1970s-1990s): structured data in a parent-child relationship, but was rigid and had trouble handling intricate data structures.
- Network DBMS (1970s-1990s): handled many-to-many relationships, but was difficult to maintain.
- Relational DBMS (1980s-present): organizes data into tables with rows and columns, became the most widely used due to its flexibility, data optimization, and support for a wide range of processes.
- Object-Oriented DBMS (1990s-present): stores information as objects, handled multiple data types and complex behaviors efficiently.
- Object-Relational DBMS (1990s-present): combined relational and object-oriented features, offered rapid access speed and enormous store capacity.
- Web-Enabled (1990s-present): databases with internet-based management and accessibility, enabling remote data administration and availability.

Components of a Database

Hardware: the actual electrical equipment that serves as an interface between computers and real-world systems, such as hard drives and computers.
Software: a collection of programs used to manage and govern databases, consisting of the operating system, network software, database software, and apps that access and exchange data with other users.
Data: processed and arranged from unprocessed facts to make information more relevant, with two DBMS levels of data independence:
- Physical-level data independence: changes to the internal schema can be made without necessitating changes to the logical schema.
- Logical-level data independence: ensuring that there is no need to modify the application software when adding or deleting fields.

Database Architecture

The structural layout and technique of a database system, providing the foundation of a DBMS.
Influences the efficiency and efficacy of data management, specifying how data is accessed, stored, and arranged.
A key feature of database architecture is the tier architecture, which divides capabilities into distinct levels or tiers, both physically and logically.

Description

Test your knowledge on the different generations of Database Management Systems, from their difficulties to their advantages. Learn about the relational and object-oriented models that have shaped the way we organize data.