What is a Database
What is a Database? A database is a stand alone application that stores the data in its structured memory. Through this application, the users can create, manage, access, search, duplicate, and retrieve or delete the data.
What is a Database
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We, human beings, have the ability to capture and store array of information in our memory. But with changing times and other factors, the information/data started getting stored in the diaries, address books, ledgers, memos etc. And now, with the technological transformation, the data gets comfortably stored in computers. So in order to manage the data on computers, the database was introduced. So what is database? A database is a stand alone application that stores the data in its structured memory. Through this application, the users can create, manage, access, search, duplicate, and retrieve or delete the data. Data on the other hand could hold any information about the people, things, services, sales, orders etc. Data can be stored in a file or in the tables of spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel) but stand alone application softwares like Microsoft Access, Oracle, SQL Server, IBM DB2, Paradox, are some of the real forms of database and are termed as ‘Database Management System (DBMS)’. Data is better maintained, well managed, constantly changed, properly integrated, and tightly secured through DBMS.
The need for a database could arise when there is same value of information in the multiple spreadsheets and there is a constant change to the values or when there is a abundance in the data or when the different people wants to access the same data for different purposes. A spreadsheet on the other hand, is used for simple data insertion and to generate charts and graphs. Data can be appended to its database through direct entry in tables (Consists of rows and columns) or by filling up of forms or via Structured Query Language (SQL) used to set a communication between the application program and the database or by using a website or application designed for this purpose. There are four categories of databases: Flat file, hierarchical, relational and object-relational. A flat file database consists of one single text file and each record is separated by commas. They are used for a simple operation like storage and search of a username and password pairs or for any email records. Hierarchical database represents a family like structure of a parent- child. Accessibility to the data is much faster due to its predefined structure. This kind of database is still used for travel reservations. The relational database also known as RDBMS, is the most common type of database, used for storing information on tables’ and the tables are organized in such a way that each table are inter-related to one another. The SQL is the standard language followed for the RDMS. The object-relational database, works well with object oriented languages. This database is an extension to relational database and its data matches to the data specified in object classes and subclasses.
To access the database, there are two sets of APIs being used: Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) and Java Database Connectivity (JDBC). These drivers establish a connection between the Database Management System (DBMS) and the application program. ODBC was developed by Microsoft and the JDBC is a part of Sun Microsystems. A free JDBC-ODBC bridge driver, derived from JDBC drivers, is used to let the java programs interact with the ODBC but then the result is quite slow. The client can also set their own APIs than the ODBC or JDBC. Most open source databases (Like MySQ, PostgresSQL, and SQLite) have their own drivers and make the accessibility much faster as large layers to access the drivers, are considerably reduced. Some of the database could also have JDBC – ODBC drivers.
Before learning any command of SQL or creating any database, the first step of any programmer or web developer should be to design a database. While designing a database, the following data relationship logic needs to be kept in mind:
One to one data: Each data should carry one unique identity. A unique identity to the data allows to programmer /web developer to trace down the data and help them to change the rest of the information of that particular data. For instance, if you need to modify the particular of one employee, you can set a unique ID to each employee in the database and call that ID whenever you need to modify /alter the particulars of any employee.
One to many and many to one data: This mantra talks about how the columns in the database table needs be managed. For example, you are an account holder of a bank. You have one account but you have multiple transactions associated with the account. You withdraw the money, save the money, transfer the money etc. These transactions values keep changing while you operate your account. So the database column would hold ‘Withdraw’, ‘Save’ and ‘Transfer’ to modify the records.
Many to many data: Let us follow an example of a bank account. You are an account holder of a bank and you have many accounts with that bank. You have saving account, recurring deposit account, fixed deposit account, current account etc. Now these multiple accounts have multiple transactions on periodical basis. These multiple values keep changing with times.
Whatever be the database, it’s the database design that plays a very crucial role in collection and manipulation of the data. And with the growing trend in online trading, the skill of a programmer/developer in terms of designing the database is very much in demand. A highly skilled programmer/developer not only manages a huge database but can also easily swap the data between the various database applications, whenever the need arises.
We, human beings, have the ability to capture and store array of information in our memory. But with changing times and other factors, the information/data started getting stored in the diaries, address books, ledgers, memos etc. And now, with the technological transformation, the data gets comfortably stored in computers. So in order to manage the data on computers, the database was introduced. So what is database? A database is a stand alone application that stores the data in its structured memory. Through this application, the users can create, manage, access, search, duplicate, and retrieve or delete the data. Data on the other hand could hold any information about the people, things, services, sales, orders etc. Data can be stored in a file or in the tables of spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel) but stand alone application softwares like Microsoft Access, Oracle, SQL Server, IBM DB2, Paradox, are some of the real forms of database and are termed as ‘Database Management System (DBMS)’. Data is better maintained, well managed, constantly changed, properly integrated, and tightly secured through DBMS.
The need for a database could arise when there is same value of information in the multiple spreadsheets and there is a constant change to the values or when there is a abundance in the data or when the different people wants to access the same data for different purposes. A spreadsheet on the other hand, is used for simple data insertion and to generate charts and graphs. Data can be appended to its database through direct entry in tables (Consists of rows and columns) or by filling up of forms or via Structured Query Language (SQL) used to set a communication between the application program and the database or by using a website or application designed for this purpose. There are four categories of databases: Flat file, hierarchical, relational and object-relational. A flat file database consists of one single text file and each record is separated by commas. They are used for a simple operation like storage and search of a username and password pairs or for any email records. Hierarchical database represents a family like structure of a parent- child. Accessibility to the data is much faster due to its predefined structure. This kind of database is still used for travel reservations. The relational database also known as RDBMS, is the most common type of database, used for storing information on tables’ and the tables are organized in such a way that each table are inter-related to one another. The SQL is the standard language followed for the RDMS. The object-relational database, works well with object oriented languages. This database is an extension to relational database and its data matches to the data specified in object classes and subclasses.
To access the database, there are two sets of APIs being used: Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) and Java Database Connectivity (JDBC). These drivers establish a connection between the Database Management System (DBMS) and the application program. ODBC was developed by Microsoft and the JDBC is a part of Sun Microsystems. A free JDBC-ODBC bridge driver, derived from JDBC drivers, is used to let the java programs interact with the ODBC but then the result is quite slow. The client can also set their own APIs than the ODBC or JDBC. Most open source databases (Like MySQ, PostgresSQL, and SQLite) have their own drivers and make the accessibility much faster as large layers to access the drivers, are considerably reduced. Some of the database could also have JDBC – ODBC drivers.
Before learning any command of SQL or creating any database, the first step of any programmer or web developer should be to design a database. While designing a database, the following data relationship logic needs to be kept in mind:
One to one data: Each data should carry one unique identity. A unique identity to the data allows to programmer /web developer to trace down the data and help them to change the rest of the information of that particular data. For instance, if you need to modify the particular of one employee, you can set a unique ID to each employee in the database and call that ID whenever you need to modify /alter the particulars of any employee.
One to many and many to one data: This mantra talks about how the columns in the database table needs be managed. For example, you are an account holder of a bank. You have one account but you have multiple transactions associated with the account. You withdraw the money, save the money, transfer the money etc. These transactions values keep changing while you operate your account. So the database column would hold ‘Withdraw’, ‘Save’ and ‘Transfer’ to modify the records.
Many to many data: Let us follow an example of a bank account. You are an account holder of a bank and you have many accounts with that bank. You have saving account, recurring deposit account, fixed deposit account, current account etc. Now these multiple accounts have multiple transactions on periodical basis. These multiple values keep changing with times.
Whatever be the database, it’s the database design that plays a very crucial role in collection and manipulation of the data. And with the growing trend in online trading, the skill of a programmer/developer in terms of designing the database is very much in demand. A highly skilled programmer/developer not only manages a huge database but can also easily swap the data between the various database applications, whenever the need arises.
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