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Databases and Database Management Systems

This document discusses databases, database management systems (DBMS), and their characteristics and uses. It provides an example of a university database and describes the entities, relationships, and users in this mini-world. Key advantages of the DBMS approach include data sharing, transaction processing, and flexibility. A DBMS may not be needed for simple databases without multiple users or when stringent performance requirements cannot be met.

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Faisal Khalil
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
33 views

Databases and Database Management Systems

This document discusses databases, database management systems (DBMS), and their characteristics and uses. It provides an example of a university database and describes the entities, relationships, and users in this mini-world. Key advantages of the DBMS approach include data sharing, transaction processing, and flexibility. A DBMS may not be needed for simple databases without multiple users or when stringent performance requirements cannot be met.

Uploaded by

Faisal Khalil
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Databases and

Database
Management
Systems
Summary

 Introduction
 Example of a University Database
 Characteristics of Database Approach
 Database Users
 Advantages of DBMS Approach
 When Not to Use a DBMS
Introduction

 Data
 Known facts that can be recorded and have an implicit meaning.
 Database
 A collection of related data.
 Mini-world
 Also known as Universe of Discourse (UoD)
 Some part of the real world about which data is stored in a database.
For example, student grades and transcripts at a university.
Introduction

 Database Management System (DBMS)


 A software package/ system to facilitate the creation and
maintenance of a computerized database.
 Database System
 The DBMS software together with the data itself. Sometimes, the
applications are also included.
Database System Environment
Example

 Mini-world for the example


 Part of a UNIVERSITY environment
 Mini-world entities
 STUDENTs
 COURSEs
 SECTIONs (of COURSEs)
 DEPARTMENTs (academic)
 INSTRUCTORs
Example

 Mini-world relationships
 SECTIONs are of specific COURSEs
 STUDENTs take SECTIONs
 COURSEs have prerequisite COURSEs
 INSTRUCTORs teach SECTIONs
 COURSEs are offered by DEPARTMENTs
 STUDENTs major in DEPARTMENTs
Characteristics of Database
Approach
 Self-Describing Nature of a Database System
 Database system stores both database and description of the
database.
 A DBMS catalog stores the description of the database.
 For example, structure of each file, the type and storage format of each
data item, and various constraints on the data.
 The description is called meta-data.
 This allows the DBMS software to work with different databases.
Characteristics of Database
Approach
 Insulation between Programs and Data
 Also called program-data independence .
 Allows changing data storage structures and operations without having
to change the DBMS access programs.
 Data Abstraction
 A data model is used to hide storage details and present the users with
a conceptual view of the database.
Characteristics of Database
Approach
 Support of Multiple Views of Data
 Each user may see a different view of the database
 Showing only the data of interest to each user.

 Sharing of Data and Multiuser Transaction Processing


 Multiuser DBMS allows multiple users to access the database at the
same time. It ensures that concurrent transactions operate correctly
and efficiently.
 Transaction: An operation that includes one or more database accesses
such as reading or updating of database records.
Database Users

 Database Administrators
 Chief administrator to oversee and manage database, DBMS and
related software.
 Database Designers
 Responsible for identifying the data to be stored in the database and
for choosing appropriate structures to represent and store this data.
 End Users
 People who require access to the database for querying, updating and
generating reports. E.g. reservation agents for airlines
Advantages of DBMS Approach

 Sharing of Data among Multiple Users


 Restricting Unauthorized Access to Data
 Providing Multiple Interfaces to Different Classes of Users
 Controlling Redundancy in Data Storage
 Representing Complex Relationships among Data
 Providing Backup and Recovery Services
 Potential for Enforcing Standards
 Availability of Up-to-Date Information
 Flexibility to Change Data Structures
 Providing Persistent Storage for Program Objects
 Reduced Application Development Time
When Not to Use a DBMS

 Main Inhibitors (costs) of using a DBMS


 High initial investment and possible need for additional
software/hardware.
 Overhead for providing security, recovery, integrity and concurrency
control.
 When a DBMS may be Unnecessary
 Database and applications are simple, well defined and not expected
to change.
 There are stringent, real-time requirements that may not be met
because of DBMS overhead.
 Access to data by multiple users is not required.
When Not to Use a DBMS

 When no DBMS may suffice


 If the database system is not able to handle the complexity of data
because of modeling limitations.
 CAD tools using drawings and 3D objects
 If the database users need special operations not supported by the
DBMS.

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