Database Management Basics
Database management is a method of managing the information that supports a company’s business operations. It involves storing data and distribution to users and applications, modifying it as necessary, monitoring changes in the data and preventing it from getting damaged by unexpected failure. It is a part of the overall infrastructure of a company that aids in decision-making in corporate growth, as well as compliance with laws like the GDPR and California Consumer Privacy Act.
The first database systems were invented in the 1960s by Charles Bachman, IBM and others. They developed into information management systems (IMS) that allowed for the storage and retrieve large amounts data for a broad range of uses, from calculating inventory to supporting complex human resources and financial accounting functions.
A database consists of a set of tables that arrange data in accordance with a specific pattern, for example, one-to-many relationships. It uses primary key to identify records and allows cross-references between tables. Each table is comprised of a set of attributes or fields that provide information about data entities. The most widely used kind of database is a relational model designed by E. F. “Ted” Codd at IBM in the 1970s. This design is based on normalizing data to make it more user-friendly. It also makes it simpler to update data by avoiding the need to update different sections of the database.
Most DBMSs can accommodate multiple types of databases through different levels of external and internal organization. The internal level deals with cost, scalability and other operational concerns such as the layout of the physical storage. The external level is how the database is displayed in user interfaces and other applications. It may include a mix of different external views based on different data models and may include virtual table that are calculated with generic data to enhance the performance.