002 Before the Advent of Database PDF

002 Before the Advent of Database Traditional File System Before databases became the backbone of data storage and retrieval, the traditional file *** system was the primary way organizations stored data. *** This syste...

002 Before the Advent of Database Traditional File System Before databases became the backbone of data storage and retrieval, the traditional file *** system was the primary way organizations stored data. *** This system involved storing data in files and directories on physical media such as hard * * * * * * * drives. * * Each application had its own set of files, often organized in a hierarchical or sequential * * * manner. Data was managed through a combination of file formats and custom software * * * programs to read and write information. * ** Structure: Files were structured in formats like text files, CSVs, and binary files. ** * * * * * * * * ** Access: Data access was typically sequential or indexed for improved retrieval in some ** * * * * * * systems. ** Management: Each department or application maintained its own files independently. ** * * * * * * ⠀ Disadvantages of the File System While the traditional file system worked for basic data storage needs, it presented ** significant limitations as data complexity and usage increased: * * * *** ** Data Redundancy and Inconsistency: * * * *** ==** Redundant Storage: Multiple copies of the same data could be stored in different files, ** == leading to unnecessary storage consumption. ==* *== ==** Inconsistency: Updates to data in one file were not automatically reflected in other ** == * * files, causing discrepancies. * * ⠀Data Isolation: ** ** ==** Lack of Integration: Data scattered across various files and formats made it difficult to ** == integrate and retrieve related information. ==** Complex Access: Retrieving related data often required complex and manual ** == * == programming. == * ⠀Difficulty in Data Access: ** ** ==** Programming Dependency: Accessing data required significant programming effort, ** == limiting quick data retrieval. ==** Sequential Access Limitations: Searching large files was slow and inefficient, ** == * * * * * especially when data was stored sequentially. * == ⠀Lack of Security: ** ** == ** No Centralized Control: File systems did not have a unified way to enforce security or ** * control data access. * ** Vulnerability: Data was often exposed to unauthorized access without proper access ** * * control mechanisms. ⠀Limited Data Integrity and Reliability: ** ** ==** Error-Prone: Maintaining data integrity required manual programming, which was ** == error-prone and unreliable. ==** Data Corruption: Files were more susceptible to corruption, especially if data was ** == accessed concurrently by multiple programs. ⠀Challenges with Data Scalability: ** ** ==** Hard to Scale: The file system was not designed to handle large-scale data effectively. ** == ==** Manual Management: Growth in data volume made file management cumbersome and ** == complex. Why the Database Was Invented The limitations of traditional file systems paved the way for the invention of database systems. As data grew in volume, complexity, and importance, a more organized, reliable, * and efficient system was required. * Databases were developed to: ** Reduce Data Redundancy: Centralize data storage to ensure that the same piece of ~~ ~~** * * data is not duplicated across multiple locations. ~~ ~~ ** Improve Data Consistency: Establish a single source of truth so that data changes are * *** *** *** * reflected across all systems using it. * ** Enhance Data Access: Provide more flexible, faster, and structured query methods * *** through languages like SQL. *** *** ** Support Concurrent Access: Allow many multiple users and applications to access and * * ** modify data simultaneously without data integrity issues. ** Strengthen Security and Authorization: Offer robust mechanisms for securing data * * * *** and controlling access based on user roles. ** Ensure Data Integrity and Reliability: Maintain data accuracy through constraints, * * * *** relationships, and checks automatically enforced by the database system.