What is a database?
(Vecteezy, n.d.)
An instrument for gathering and arranging information is a database. Databases can include data about people, things, orders, and anything else. In a spreadsheet or word processing application, lists frequently begin as databases. Redundancies and inconsistencies in the data start to show themselves as the list gets longer. Lists of data make it difficult to comprehend what they mean, and there are few options to search for or extract certain subsets of data for analysis. It is a good idea to move the data to a database made by a database management system (DBMS), such as Access, whenever these issues start to arise. A container of items is a digital database. Multiple tables may exist in a single database (Microsoft, 2021).
Advantages
A database management system (DBMS) is essentially a set of software tools and applications that can access, analyse, and alter data. By taking into account the proper security measures, it permits access to, recovery of, and use of such data. For improved data integration and security, the database management system (DBMS) is quite helpful. The list below includes a few of them.
Enhanced Data Security
The database is more vulnerable to security problems the easier it is to access and use. The danger to data security rises as a result of the rate at which data is shared or transferred growing along with the user base. It is commonly utilised in the corporate sector as businesses devote significant sums of money, time, and effort to guarantee that data is safe and is used appropriately. A database management system (DBMS) offers an improved framework for data privacy and security standards, assisting businesses in enhancing data security.
Reduced Data Inconsistency
When various versions of the same data exist in different places across files, data inconsistency arises. Thus, by properly designing a database, the amount of data inconsistency may be considerably minimised.
Better Decision-making
As a result of DBMS, we now have better data management and access, which enables us to produce information of higher quality. On this basis, choices may be taken with more accuracy. Accuracy, reliability, and read-time efficiency are all improved by better data quality. The structure provided by DBMS makes it simple to increase data quality, but it does not guarantee it.
Data Abstraction
Giving users access to an abstract view of the data is one of a database system's main goals. When developers utilise a variety of sophisticated algorithms to improve the effectiveness of databases that users can access but are disguised by different levels of data abstraction, users can engage with the system more readily.
Data Redundancy Reduction
A structured database's DBMS feature prevents the entry of duplicate entries into the database when dealing with it (geeksforgeeks, 2019).
Concepts
Primary Key
A primary key is a unique column (or set of columns) assigned to relational database table(s) in order to uniquely identify each table entry. For easy parsing of the table's contents, a primary key is utilised as a unique identifier. A table can only have one main key. The major attributes of a primary key are:
- Each row of data must have a different value in it.
- Null values are not permitted in it.
- A primary key value is required for each row.
- A primary key may make use of one or more of the underlying data model's fields, or it may be established as a distinct additional field.
Foreign Key
A column or set of columns in a relational database table known as a foreign key serves as a connection between the data in two different databases. It refers to the primary key of another table, creating a link between the two tables and serving as a cross-reference between them.
In a relational database system, the foreign key notion is used in the majority of tables. Data from a domain must be added to various tables in complex databases and data warehouses in order to preserve their relationship with one another. Foreign key theory is where the idea of referential integrity originated.
Below, is an example of the relationship between these two concepts.
(Singh, 2020)
References
geeksforgeeks (2019). Advantages of Database Management System - GeeksforGeeks. [online] GeeksforGeeks. Available at: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/advantages-of-database-management-system/ [Accessed 18 Feb. 2023].
Microsoft (2021). Database basics. [online] support.microsoft.com. Available at: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/database-basics-a849ac16-07c7-4a31-9948-3c8c94a7c204 [Accessed 18 Feb. 2023].
Rabelo, J. (2019a). What is a Foreign Key? - Definition from Techopedia. [online] Techopedia.com. Available at: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/7272/foreign-key [Accessed 18 Feb. 2023].
Rabelo, J. (2019b). What is a Primary Key? - Definition from Techopedia. [online] Techopedia.com. Available at: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/5547/primary-key [Accessed 18 Feb. 2023].
Singh, M. (2020). Primary key Vs Foreign Key in SQL. [online] Medium. Available at: https://macxima.medium.com/primary-key-vs-foreign-key-in-sql-d89260b74e1c [Accessed 18 Feb. 2023].
Vecteezy. (n.d.). Download Free Vectors, Clipart Graphics, Vector Art & Design Templates. [online] Available at: https://www.vecteezy.com/free-vector/database-logo [Accessed 18 Feb. 2023].
Comments
Post a Comment