Database Management System Notes

CHAPTER 1: Database and Database Users

1. Data
Data means facts that can be recorded and that have implicit meaning.

2. Database
Database is the collection of coherent, meaningful data organized in
structured format.
(eg. University database in which info is kept on students – name, year etc.

3. Database Management System

A DBMS is a collection of programs that enables users to create and
maintain a database.
A general-purpose software system that facilitates the process of
defining, constructing, manipulating, and sharing databases among various
users and application.
(eg .MySQL, Microsoft Access)

4. Database System
Integrated System of hardware, software, data, people and
procedures. It defines and regulates the collection storage management
and use of data within a database management.

5. Four Main Types of Actions involve in Database

They are -
i. Defining
ii. Constructing
iii. Manipulating
iv. Sharing
6. Defining
involves specific the data types, structures, and constraints of the
data to be stored in the database.

7. Constructing
Is the process of storing the data on some storage medium that is
controlled by the DBMS.

8. Manipulating
Includes functions such as querying the database to retrieve specific
data, updating the database to reflect changes in the mini world and
generating reports from the data.
9. Sharing
Allows multiple user and programs to access the database
simultaneously.

10.Metadata
The database definition or descriptive information is stored by the
DBMS in the form of catalog or dictionary and it is called meta-data.

11.Main Characteristics of Database Approach

i. Self-describing nature of a database system
ii. Insulation between programs and data and data abstraction
iii. Support of multiple views of data
iv. Sharing data and multiusers transaction processing

12.Self-describing nature of database system

Database system contains not only database itself but also a complete
definition or description of database structure and constraints stored in a
DBMS catalog (contains information such as structure of each file, the type
and storage format of each data item and various constraints on the data).
 The information in the catalog is called meta-data. Data about data used by
DBMS software and databases users to get info about database structure
data definition separate from application programs

13.Program data independence

DBMS access application programs written are independent of
database structure i.e change in structure will not affect existing programs.

14.Data Abstraction
The characteristics that allows program-data independence and
program-operation independence is called data abstraction. It provides
users with conceptual representation of data that does not include many
details of how the data is stored or how the operations are implemented.

15.Data Model
Data model is the type of data abstraction that is used to provide
conceptual representation using logical constructs which may be easier to
understand than actual computer storage concepts. It is not related to
actual storage of data.

16.Support Multiple view of data

Different may require different perspective or view of the database.
A view may be a subset of the database or it may contain virtual data – that
is derived from the database files but not is explicitly stored.

17.Sharing of data and multiuser transaction processing

Database allows multiple users so data must be shared. Access to
shared data must be monitored to ensure that multiple accesses do not
corrupt the data (by using concurrency control software).
Eg. Assign a seat on bus ticket online reservation system
18.Actors on the scene
i. Database Administrators
ii. Database Designers
iii. End Users
iv. System Analysts and Application Programmers

19.Database Administrators (DBA)

Administers the database, DBMS and related software resources.
They are responsible for authorizing access to the database, coordinating
and managing use and acquiring software and hardware as needed. DBA is
accountable security and poor system response time (assisted by staff)

20.Database Designers
Design the structure of the database and also responsible for
identifying the data to be stored and how to store it in the database. It also
communicates with users to determine what data to be stored and what views
to provide.
21.End Users
People who access data through app software for querying, updating
and generating reports.
21.Four Types of End users
i. Casual end users
ii. Naïve or parametric end users
iii. Sophisticated end users
iv. Standalone users

22. Casual End Users

Occasionally access the database, but they may need different
information each time.
23.Naïve Users
Their main job function revolving around constantly querying and
updating the database, using standard types of queries and updates called
canned transactions.

24.Sophisticated end users

Includes engineers, scientists and other professionals who
familiarize themselves with the facilities of the DBMS in order to implement
their own applications to meet their complex requirements.

25.Standalone Users
Maintain personal database by using ready-made program packages
that provide easy-to-use menu-based or graphics-based interfaces.

26.Programmers/Analysts
Design and produce the application software for canned programs
to be used by users.

27.Canned transactions
Standard types of queries and updates which are carefully
programmed and tested to assist naïve users in querying and updating the
database.

28.Workers behind the scene

Those who are associated with design, development and operation of
the DBMS software and system environment.

29.DBMS system designers and implementers

Design and implement the DBMS modules and interfaces as software
package. (DBMS is complex software consist of may components, modules)
30.Tool Developers
Design and implement tools. (Tools – software package that facilitate
database modeling and design, database system design and improved
performance.)

31.Operators and maintenance personnel

Responsible for the actual running and maintenance of the hardware
and software environment for the database system.

32.Deductive Database Systems

Are to provide capabilities for defining deduction rules for inferencing
new information from the stored database facts.

33..Advantages of using DBMS approach

i. Controlling redundancy,
ii. Restricting unauthorized access
iii. Providing persistent storage for program objects
iv. Database inferencing
v. Representing complex relationships
vi. Enforcing integrity constraints
vii. Providing backup and recovery
viii. Providing multiple user interface
ix. Providing storage structures and search techniques for efficient
query processing

Controlling redundancy: redundancy means storing the same data multiple

times. In DBMS, data is stored in a central place for use by many
applications and users. Thus, a single storage location helps maintain
consistency of data.

Security : DBMS allows only authorized users to access certain data by

permitting views to the particular user.
 Persistent Storage : Unlike in programming language, DBMS data remains
persistent after the program using it is complete.

Database Inferencing : Some DBMS define rules for deriving data

Multiple user interfaces : DBMS should provide a variety of user interfaces

to fit the sophistication of the user. These include query languages for
causal users, programming language interfaces for application
programmers, forms and commands codes for parametric users and menu-
driven interfaces and natural languages interfaces for standalone users.

Representing complex relationships : DBMS represents related data and

retrieves and updates related data efficiently.

Enforcing integrity constraints : constraints can be defined that must hold

in order for the data to be considered correct.

Backup and Recovery – in case of system failure, recover to a consistent

state using backup data.

34.When not to use DBMS

i. Simple application which are for just one time use

ii. Multi-user access is not needed
iii. Stringent real-time requirements

DBMS is costly