Database application

Data vs. Information

• Data:
– Raw fact
• Information:
– Data processed to reveal meaning
• Data is unprocessed information
 File-based system
• Disadvantages
– Require extensive programming (3GL)
– Time consuming
– Data Redundancy
• Different and conflicting versions of same data
– Lack of data integrity
– Deletion and insertion anomalies are common
– No security (Hard to implement)
 File-based system (con’t)
• Disadvantages
– No security (Hard to implement)
– Data Dependence
• Change in file’s data characteristics requires
modification of data access programs
– Structural Dependence
• Change in file structure requires modification of related
programs
 File-based system (con’t)
• Disadvantages
– E.g.
ID E_name Dep_name Loc
101 Ali Accounting Nablus
102 Ameer Sales Jenin
103 Ahmad Sales Nablus
104 Saed Accounting Nablus
 Definition
• Database: is an entity in which data can be stored
in a structured manner, with as little redundancy as
possible. Different programs and different users must
be able to use this data
• A database is a self-describing collection of related
records or tables
• Contains:
– User Data
– Metadata: data about the structure of a database
 Why Database
• Reduce redundancy
• Sharing of data
• Restricting unauthorized access to data
• Multiple interfaces to different classes of users
• Enforcing integrity constraints on the database
• Providing backup and recovery services
• Enforcing standards
• Reduced application development time
 Database System Types
• Number of users
– Single-user vs. Multiuser Database
• Location
– Centralized vs. Distributed
• Use
– Production or transactional
– Decision support or data warehouse
 Database Management System

• DBMS: software system that manages

execution of users applications to access and
modify database data so that the data
security, data integrity, and data reliability is
guaranteed for each application and each
application is written with an assumption that
it is the only application active in the
database.
Database Management System
 Database system environment
• Hardware (System’s Physical devices)
– Computer, Peripherals, Network
• Software
– Operating system: manages hardware components
• Windows, Unix, Linux etc
– DBMS: manages database
• MS Access, SQL Server, Oracle, DB2, Mysql
– Application and utility software: support access and
manipulate data
• Generate information for decision making
• Help to manage database system
 Database system environment (con’t)
• People
– System administrator
• Hardware system support
– Database administrator:
• Manage DBMS
– Database designer
– Programmers
– End users:
• Data
• Procedures
Database system environment
 DBMS Functions
• Data dictionary management
– Definition of the data elements and their
relationships are
– Remove data and structure dependencies.
• Data storage management
– Structures required for data storage
• Data transformation and presentation
– Translate logical request into command to
physically locate and retrieve the request data

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 DBMS Functions (con’t)
• Security management
– Enforce user security & data privacy within DB
• Multiuser access control
– Use sophisticate algorithm
– Ensure concurrency
• Data integrity management
– Enforce integrity rules

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 DBMS Functions (con’t)
• Database access language and application
programming interfaces
– Eg. SQL
• Database communication interfaces
– Accept end user requests via multiple, different
environment
• Backup and recovery management

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