The Database

What is the database?


A database is a set of structured information, generally stored
electronically in a computer system.


Furthermore, the database is controlled by a DBMS, or “Database
Management System”.
 What is a database for?

The purpose of a database is to collect a certain set of data, and then make it
available to those who request it, regardless of whether the applicant is a simple user
or another computer.


Put simply, given that information in electronic format is now more and more
numerous, a database serves both to collect this information and to make it available
to others. Therefore, they are nothing more than simple files with an appropriate
extension that are stored on a computer's hard drive.
 What is the difference between databases and
spreadsheets?


Databases and spreadsheets are both practical solutions for storing information.


The main differences between the two tools concern:

Methods of storing and manipulating data

Users authorized to access the data

Amount of data that can be stored
 How do you design a database?

First of all, to design a database, it is necessary to do an analysis of the problem, in
order to find an adequate solution.

Subsequently, the design of it is divided into three phases, which are:

conceptual level

logic level

physical level
 The conceptual level


Basically, the “conceptual level” includes the analysis of the
problem, then the identification of the entities, their attributes and
subsequently the design of the entity-relationship diagram.
 The logic level

For the logical level, we mean the choice of the relationships that exist between the
various entities.

There are 3 possible relationships:

one by one

one to many

many to many

Furthermore, the representation of relational tables is also part of this level.
 The fisic level


For the physical layer, we mean the creation of the actual database,
using the various DBMS.

An example of this can be the Base software, used for the creation
of databases.
FINE