Database Schema

It is the structural feature of a database

 It is an infrastructure that supports permission
in a database
 At each level there exists a schema
Instance
It is a collection of information stored in a database at a
particular moment
 Types of Database Schema
 External schema
 Conceptual Schema
 Internal schema
 Data Independence
It is the property when the database schema at one
level is changed without affecting the other level.

 In many systems, data independence is an

essential function for components of the system.
 Types of Data Independence
Physical data independence
Logical data independence.
 Physical Data Independence
Physical data independence helps you to
separate conceptual levels from the
internal/physical levels.
 With Physical independence, you can easily
change the physical storage structures or devices
without an effect on the conceptual schema.
 Examples
Using a new storage device like Hard Drive 
 Change of Location of Database from say C
drive to D Drive
 Logical Data Independence

 Changes the conceptual schema

  It is challenging to achieve logical data
independence.
 Examples
Merging two records into one
Add/Modify/Delete a new attribute
 Need of data independence
Easily make modifications in the physical level is
needed to improve the performance of the system
 Helps you to improve the quality of the data
Database system maintenance becomes
affordable