Introduction to Database

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design Prepared by Bong Chih How 1

 • By the end of the class, the student is
able
• To describe data, information
Objectives • To describe database and database
management system
• To appreciate the database evolution
from file systems

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design Prepared by Bong Chih How 2

 Data vs Information

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design Prepared by Bong Chih How 3

 • Data (singular or plural) are raw facts
• Raw data - Not yet been processed to
reveal the meaning
• Building blocks of information
Data vs. • Information requires context to reveal
meaning
Information • Eg, 123° 43' 52.12588" W
• Raw data must be formatted for storage,
processing, and presentation
• Data are the foundation of information,
which is the bedrock of knowledge

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design Prepared by Bong Chih How 4

 • Information produced by processing data

• Information used to reveal meaning in
data
Data vs. • Accurate, relevant, timely information is
Information the key to good decision making
• Good decision making is the key to
(cont’d.) organizational survival
• Data management: focuses on proper
generation, storage, and retrieval of data

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design Prepared by Bong Chih How 5

 • Good decisions require good information

derived from raw facts
• Data is managed most efficiently when
stored in a database

Why do I • Databases solve many of the problems

encountered in data management
care about • Used in almost all modern settings
involving data management:
databases? • Business
• Research
• Administration
• Important to understand how databases
work and interact with other applications

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design Prepared by Bong Chih How 6

What is a database?
TMF2034 Database Concept and Design Prepared by Bong Chih How
7
 • A database is a collection of organized data which are
collected over time. The data contains both
structured user data and metadata.
• User data: raw facts of interest to end user
• They are student names, grades, salary
etc.
• Metadata: data about data

What is • They are data type, relationship, date

created, data modified, and file size and
etc.
a Database? • Metadata also known as system catalog
and data dictionary
• Database management system (DBMS)
• Is a collection of software
• Manages the database structure
• Controls access to data stored in the database
• More on this later

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design Prepared by Bong Chih How 8

 

Database
Management
System

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design Prepared by Bong Chih How

 An integrated database environment
• DBMS controls the access to the databases
• DBMS eliminates most of file system’s problems

What is a Current generation DBMS software:

Database Stores data structures, relationships between

Management structures, and access paths

System Defines, stores, and manages all access paths

and components
(DBMS)?
Logically related data stored in a single logical
data repository

Physically distributed among multiple storage

facilities

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design 10

11
 Role of the DBMS

1 2 3
Serve data to end user Allow writing Allow designing, creating
• Interact DBMS directly or applications for other and maintaining the
indirectly users database with ease
• Use SQL to retrieve the data
• Java, C, C++, C# … • Carry out the task by database
from the DBMS
administrator (DBA)

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design 12

A Database System
13
Advantages of Database Systems
(1)
Allow sharing of data

Control of redundancy

Ensure data consistency

Improve data standards

More control over concurrency

14
Advantages of Database Systems
(2)
Better data security

Improved data integrity

Better backup and recovery procedures

Fast development of new applications

Better data accessibility

15
Disadvantages of Database
Systems
Increased costs

Management complexity

Maintaining currency

Vendor dependence

Frequent upgrade/replacement cycles

16
 File Systems and Databases

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design Prepared by Bong Chih How 17

A Simple Database Everyone
Can Do – Flat File
18
Flat file

A dedicated program may

When data grow, processing
create to read the flat file
may be difficult
database

However, flat file database is

Read line by line, fields are subjected to structural, data
separated using a separator dependence and data
redundancy.

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design 19

 A Manual File System

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design 20

 Contents of each
file folder are
logically related

Manual File Served as a data

repository for small
Systems data collections

Cumbersome for
large collections

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design

21
Computerized File Systems (1)

Data processing (DP) specialist converted Initially, computer file systems resembled
computer file structure from manual system manual systems
Wrote software that managed the data
Designed the application programs

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design Prepared by Bong Chih How 22

Computerized
File Systems
(2)

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design Prepared by Bong Chih How 23

Computerized File Systems (3)

24
A Simple File System in
an Organization
25
Contrasting Database
and File Systems
26
File System Redux: Spreadsheet

Ubiquitous use of personal productivity tools can

introduce the same problems as the old file
systems

Widely used by business users

Users have become so adept at working with
Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, they tend to use them to
complete tasks for which spreadsheets are
not appropriate – database substitute

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design 27

 Lengthy development times

Problems Difficulty of getting quick answers

with File
System Complex system administration

Data
Lack of security and limited data
Processing sharing

Extensive programming

28
29
Preparing for Your Database Professional Career

30
 • An ice-cream store
Which is the
• A tuition center
following • A computer hardware and repair store
businesses • A pharmacy
require • A car spare-part store
database? • A florist store
• A Real estate corporation
• A clinic
• A second hand car dealer
• A furniture store

TMF2034 Database Concept and Design 31