Database Management Basics

Database management is a method of managing information that supports a company’s business operations. It includes data storage and distribution to applications and users, modifying it as necessary as well as monitoring changes to the data and preventing it from becoming damaged by unexpected failures. It is an integral part of the informational infrastructure of a business which supports decision-making and corporate growth as well as compliance with laws such as the GDPR and California Consumer Privacy Act.

The first database systems were created in the 1960s by Charles Bachman, IBM and others. They evolved into information management systems (IMS), which allowed huge amounts of data to be stored and retrieved for a range of reasons. From calculating inventory to supporting complex financial accounting functions as well as human resource functions.

A database is a set of tables that organizes data according to a specific pattern, such as one-to many relationships. It uses the primary key to identify records and allows cross-references among tables. Each table has a set of fields, known as attributes, that represent facts about the data entities. The most well-known type of database that is currently in use is a relational model, developed by E. F. “Ted” Codd at IBM in the 1970s. This model is based upon normalizing the data, making it more easy to use. It also makes it simpler to update data, avoiding the need to change many sections of the database.

Most DBMSs support multiple types of databases by providing different cuuhomaytinh.itvn.tech internal and external levels of organization. The internal level is focused on the cost, scalability, and other operational issues, like the physical layout of the database. The external level is the representation of the database in user interfaces and applications. It could include a mix of different external views based on different data models. It also may also include virtual tables that are calculated with generic data to enhance the performance.