Traditional File System

Before databases, file-based systems were used for storage and retrieval of data. A file-based system is a method of storing and managing data in individual files. These files are organized in directories or folders on a computer’s storage device. In this system, each file is designed to store data related to a specific purpose (e.g., customer records or transaction details) but is not inherently connected to other files. Data is accessed, updated, or deleted manually or by custom programs.

Before the use of a computer, a manual file system was used to maintain the records and files. Data was stored and processed using a traditional file system and it makes it easy to find any information.

In this traditional file system, each file is independent of other files and data in the different file can be integrated only by writing an individual program for each application.

It provides details of data representation and storage of data. In this,

• Data is stored in files.
• Each file has specific format.
• Programs that use these files depend on knowledge about that format.
• In earlier days, database applications were built on top of file systems.

Working of Traditional File System

The file system is basically a way of arranging the files in a storage medium like a hard disk. The data and application program that uses the data are arranged that any change to data requires modification of all the programs that use the data. Sometimes, it is not possible to identify all the programs using data and identified on trial and error basis.

All functional areas in the organization create, processes its own files. The files such as inventory and payroll generate separate files and do not communicate with each other. The organization was simple to generate and had better local control but the data of an organization is dispersed throughout the functional subsystem.

Functions of Traditional File System

• Store and arrange the computer files.
• Stored files into database, manipulation, and retrieval by the computer's operating system.
• Perform services for the end users, such as updating, insertion, deletion adding new files to database etc.
• Each program defines and manages its data.

Key Characteristics of Traditional File Systems

File Based Storage:

• Data was stored in files, often organized by type or purpose (e.g., employee records, inventory logs).
• Each file contained information in a specific format, typically plain text or proprietary layouts.

Independent Files:

• Each file operated independently. There was no inherent relationship or linking between different files.
• If one file contained customer names and another contained orders, there was no built-in way to connect the two automatically.

Custom Programs Required:

• To process or extract useful information from these files, a specific application or program had to be written.
• For example, to generate a report combining data from multiple files, a programmer would manually write a script to read, interpret, and combine the data.

Redundancy and Inconsistency:

• Due to the lack of integration, the same data (like customer names or addresses) was often stored in multiple files, leading to redundancy.
• Updates in one file might not be reflected in another, causing data inconsistency.

Lack of Data Security and Integrity:

• Manual systems and traditional files lacked features like access control or encryption.
• Anyone with access to the files could read or alter them.

Difficult Data Access and Scalability:

• Searching or modifying data required reading through entire files sequentially (especially in large datasets).
• As data grew, managing and maintaining files became increasingly difficult.

To overcome disadvantages of File system, DBMS came in use. DBMS stands for Database Management System. It is collection of inter related data. It has set of programs to access the data. It contains information about particular enterprise. It provides convenient and efficient environment for use.

DBMS is a collection of interrelated data's stored in a database server; these data will be stored in the form of tables. The aim of the database is to provide a way to store and retrieve database information in a fast and efficient manner.

Difference Between Traditional File System and DBMS

Below is a comparison table between the Traditional File System and a Database Management System (DBMS):

For more information on why we prefer DBMS you can refer to DBMS over File System .