Database & Database Management

Systems (DBMS)
 Introduction
• Good decisions require good information derived from
raw facts
• Data managed most efficiently when stored in a
database
• Databases evolved from computer file systems
• Understanding file system characteristics is important

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 Introducing the Database
and the DBMS
• Database: shared, integrated computer structure that
stores a collection of data
• End-user data: raw facts of interest to the end user
• Metadata: data about data; provides description of data
characteristics
• DBMS: collection of programs; manages structure and
control access to data

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 Role and Advantages of the DBMS
• DBMS is the intermediary between the user and the
database
• Database structure stored as file collection
• Access database through the DBMS
• DBMS enables data to be shared
• DBMS integrates many users’ views of the data

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 Role and Advantages of the DBMS
(continued)
• Advantages of a DBMS:
– Improved data access
– Improved data security
– Better data integration
– Minimized data inconsistency
– Improved decision making
– Increased end-user productivity

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 Types of Databases
• Databases can be classified according to:
– Number of users
– Database location(s)
– Expected type and extent of use

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 Database Design
• Focused on the structure to be used for end-user data
• Designer must identify database’s expected use
• A well-designed database:-
 Facilitates data management
 Generates accurate and valuable information
• Poorly designed database:
 Causes difficult-to-trace errors

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 Field Definitions and
Naming Conventions
• Storing customer name as single field is a
liability
– Better record definition breaks fields into
component parts
• Selecting proper field names important; field
names are descriptive
– With proper naming conventions, file structure
becomes self-documenting
– Some software places restrictions on length of
field names
• Each record should have unique identifier
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 Data Redundancy
• File system structure makes it difficult to
combine data from multiple sources
– Vulnerable to security breaches
• Organizational structure promotes storage of
same data in different locations
– Islands of information
• Data stored in different locations unlikely to be
updated consistently
• Data redundancy: same data stored
unnecessarily in different places
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 Data Redundancy (continued)

• Data inconsistency: different and conflicting

versions of same data occur at different places
• Data anomalies: abnormalities when all
changes in redundant data not made correctly
– Update anomalies
– Insertion anomalies
– Deletion anomalies

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 Database Systems

• Database system consists of logically related

data stored in a single logical data repository
– May be physically distributed among multiple
storage facilities
• DBMS eliminates most of file system’s problems
• Current generation stores data structures,
relationships between structures, access paths
– Takes care of defining, storing, managing all
access paths and components

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 The Database System Environment

• Database system: defines and regulates the

collection, storage, management, use of data
• Five major parts of a database system:
– Hardware
– Software
– People
– Procedures
– Data

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 The Database System Environment
(continued)
• Hardware: all the system’s physical devices
• Software: three types of software required:
– Operating system software
– DBMS software
– Application programs and utility software
• People: all users of the database system:
– System and database administrators
– Database designers
– Systems analysts and programmers
– End users
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 DBMS Functions
• Most functions transparent to end users
– Can only be achieved through the DBMS
• Data dictionary management
– DBMS stores definitions of data elements and
relationships (metadata) in a data dictionary
– DBMS looks up required data component
structures and relationships
– Changes automatically recorded in the
dictionary
– DBMS provides data abstraction, removes
structural and data dependency
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 DBMS Functions (continued)

• Data storage management

– DBMS creates and manages complex structures
required for data storage
– Also stores related data entry forms, screen
definitions, report definitions, etc.
– Performance tuning: activities that make the
database perform more efficiently
– DBMS stores the database in multiple physical
data files

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 DBMS Functions (continued)

• Data transformation and presentation

– DBMS transforms data entered to conform to
required data structures
– DBMS transforms physically retrieved data to
conform to user’s logical expectations
• Security management
– DBMS creates a security system that enforces
user security and data privacy
– Security rules determine which users can access
the database, which items can be accessed, etc.
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 DBMS Functions (continued)

• Multiuser access control

– DBMS uses sophisticated algorithms to ensure
concurrent access does not affect integrity
• Backup and recovery management
– DBMS provides backup and data recovery to
ensure data safety and integrity
– Recovery management deals with recovery of
database after a failure
• Critical to preserving database’s integrity

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 DBMS Functions (continued)

• Data integrity management

– DBMS promotes and enforces integrity rules
• Minimizes redundancy
• Maximizes consistency
– Data relationships stored in data dictionary used
to enforce data integrity
– Integrity especially important in transaction-
oriented database systems

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 DBMS Functions (continued)

• Database access languages and application

programming interfaces
– DBMS provides access through a query
language
– Query language is a nonprocedural language
– Structured Query Language (SQL) is the de
facto query language
• Standard supported by majority of DBMS vendors

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 DBMS Functions (continued)

• Database communication interfaces

– Current DBMSs accept end-user requests via
multiple different network environments
– Communications accomplished in several ways:
• End users generate answers to queries by filling
in screen forms through Web browser
• DBMS automatically publishes predefined reports
on a Web site
• DBMS connects to third-party systems to
distribute information via e-mail

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 Managing the Database System:
A Shift in Focus
• Database system provides a framework in
which strict procedures and standards enforced
– Role of human changes from programming to
managing organization’s resources
• Database system enables more sophisticated
use of the data
• Data structures created within the database
and their relationships determine effectiveness

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 Managing the Database System:
A Shift in Focus (continued)
• Disadvantages of database systems:
– Increased costs
– Management complexity
– Vendor dependence
– Frequent upgrades

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Data Warehousing Definitions & Concepts

• DW: A physical repository where relational data

are specially organized to provide enterprise-
wide, cleansed data in a standardized format
ready for analytical processing activities like:
– OLAP
– Data Mining
– Querying
– Reporting
Relational modeling
Data-warehouse (dimensional modeling)
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 Characteristics of DW
– Subject oriented – Web based
(e.g. sales, (interface)
products….) – Relational/multidi
– Integrated mensional
(related to (structure)
Subject) – Client/server
– Time variant (time (access)
series) – Real-time
– Nonvolatile (data – Include metadata
cant be changed)
DW: Process
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 Summary

• Data are raw facts

• Information is the result of processing data to
reveal its meaning
• Accurate, relevant, timely information is the key
to good decision making
• Data usually stored in a database
• DBMS implements a database and manages its
contents

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 Summary (continued)
• Metadata is data about data
• Database design defines the database
structure
– Well-designed database facilitates data
management, generates valuable information
– Poorly-designed database leads to bad decision
making, organizational failure
• Databases evolved from manual and
computerized file systems
– In a file system, data stored in independent files
• Each requires its own management program

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 Summary (continued)

• Some limitations of file system data

management:
– Requires extensive programming
– System administration complex and difficult
– Changing existing structures difficult
– Security features likely inadequate
– Independent files tend to contain redundant data
• Structural and data dependency problems

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 Summary (continued)

• Database management systems developed to

address file system’s inherent weaknesses
• DBMS present database to end user as single
repository
– Promotes data sharing
– Eliminates islands of information
• DBMS enforces data integrity, eliminates
redundancy, promotes security

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 Objectives
• Differences between data and information
• What is a database?
• Various types of databases
• Why they are valuable assets for decision making
• The importance of database design

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 Objectives (continued)
• How modern databases evolved from file systems
• About flaws in file system data management
• What the database system’s main components are
• How a database system differs from a file system
• The main functions of a database management system
(DBMS)

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 Structural and Data Dependence
• Structural dependence: access to a file dependent on
its own structure
– All file system programs must be modified to
conform to a new file structure
• Structural independence: change file structure without
affecting data access
• Data dependence: data access changes when data
storage characteristics change
• Data independence: data storage characteristics do
not affect data access

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 Structural and Data Dependence
(continued)
• Practical significance of data dependence is
difference between logical and physical format
• Logical data format: how human views the
data
• Physical data format: how computer must
work with data
• Each program must contain:
– Lines specifying opening of specific file type
– Record specification
– Field definitions
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 The Database System Environment
(continued)
• Procedures: instructions and rules that govern
the design and use of the database system
• Data: the collection of facts stored in the
database
• Database systems created and managed at
different levels of complexity
• Database solutions must be cost-effective as
well as tactically and strategically effective
• Database technology already in use affects
selection of a database system
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 Data vs. Information
• Data are raw facts
• Information is the result of processing raw data to
reveal meaning
• Information requires context to reveal meaning
• Raw data must be formatted for storage, processing,
and presentation
• Data are the foundation of information, which is the
bedrock of knowledge

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 Data vs Information
DATA

PROCESSING

INFORMATION
(MEANINGFUL DATA)

GOOD DECISION
MAKING

ORGANIZATIONAL
SURVIVAL

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 Based on number of Users
• Single-user database supports only one user at a time
– Desktop database – single-user, runs on PC

• Multiuser database supports multiple users at the

same time
– Workgroup database supports a small number
– Enterprise database supports a large number

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 Types of Databases (continued)
• Centralized database: data located at a single site
• Distributed database: data distributed across several
different sites
• Operational database: supports a company’s day-to-
day operations
– Transactional or production database
• Data warehouse: stores data used for tactical or
strategic decisions

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 Types of Databases (continued)
TYPES OF DATA
•Unstructured data : exist in their original state
•Structured data : result from formatting
•Semistructured data : processed to some extent

•XML Database : supports semistructured XML data

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 Problems with File System Data
Management
• Requires extensive programming
• Can not perform ad hoc queries
• System administration complex and difficult
• Difficult to make changes to existing structures
• Security features likely to be inadequate; often omitted
in file system environments

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