DATA DICTIONARY

WHAT IS A DATA
DICTIONARY

A DATA DICTIONARY IS A COLLECTION OF THE NAMES, DEFINITIONS, AND ATTRIBUTES

FOR DATA ELEMENTS AND MODELS. THE DATA IN A DATA DICTIONARY IS THE METADATA
ABOUT THE DATABASE. THESE ELEMENTS ARE THEN USED AS PART OF A DATABASE,
RESEARCH PROJECT, OR INFORMATION SYSTEM. THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST
COMMON ELEMENTS USED IN A DATA DICTIONARY, THOUGH THERE’S VARIATION:

• ATTRIBUTE NAME

• ATTRIBUTE TYPE

• ENTITY-RELATIONSHIP

• REFERENCE DATA

• RULES FOR VALIDATION, SCHEMA, OR DATA QUALITY

• DETAILED PROPERTIES OF DATA ELEMENTS
• PHYSICAL INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE DATA IS STORED
INTRODUCTION

• The data dictionary or system catalog is an important part of the DBMS. It

contains data about data (or metadata). It means that it contains the actual
database descriptions used by the DBMS. In most DBMSS, the data
dictionary is active and integrated. It means that the DBMS checks the data
dictionary every time the database is accessed.
Introduction

• ALL WELL DESIGNED DATABASE WILL SURELY INCLUDE A DATA

DICTIONARY.
• IT PROVIDES DATABASE ADMINISTRATORS AND OTHER USERS,
EASY ACCESS TO TYPE OF DATA THAT THEY SHOULD EXPECT TO
SEE IN EVERY TABLE, ROW AND COLUMN OF DATABASE,
WITHOUT ACTUALLY ACCESSING THE DATABASE
TYPES OF DATA DICTIONARY

Here are the two types of data dictionary −

• Active Data Dictionary

• The DBMS software manages the active data dictionary automatically. The modification is an
automatic task and most RDBMS has active data dictionary. It is also known as integrated
data dictionary.
• Passive Data Dictionary
• Managed by the users and is modified manually when the database structure change. Also
known as non-integrated data dictionary.
METADATA

• A metadata (also called the data dictionary) is the data about the data. It is the self
describing nature of the database that provides program-data independence. It is also called
as the System Catalog. It holds the following information about each data element in the
databases.

• The data dictionary contains the bookkeeping information about the database so that it can

manage the data. It does not contain the information of the actual data of the database.
NECESSITY OF A DATADICTIONARY.

• SINCE DATABASE IS MEANT TO BE BUILT AND USED BY

MULTIPLE USERS, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF
WHAT TYPES OF DATA EACH FIELD WILL ACCEPT BECOMES A
CHALLENGE.
• SO A DATA DICTIONARY IS EFFECTIVE ADD ON TO ENSURE DATA
CONSISTENCY.
A DATA DICTIONARY IS:

• A tool for recording and processing information (metadata)about the data

that an organisation uses.
• A central catalogue for metadata.Can be integrated within the DBMS or be
separate.
• May be referenced during system design, programming, and by actively-
executing programs.
FORMAT FOR DATA DICTIONARY

• THERE EXISTS NO STANDARD FORMAT FOR CREATING A DATA

DICTIONARY.
• META-DATA DIFFERS FROM TABLE TO TABLE.
• THE ONLY essential FOR A DATA DICTIONARY IS THAT IT SHOULD
BE EASILY SEARCHABLE.
ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF DATA
DICTIONARY
• IT EXUDES CLARITY ON THE REST OF THE DATABASE DOCUMENTATION.
• WHEN A NEW USER IS INTRODUCED TO THE SYSTEM, IDENTIFYING TABLE
STRUCTURE AND TYPES BECOMES SIMPLE.
Disadvantage
• A DDS (Data Distribution Service) is a useful management tool, but at a price.
• The DDS 'project' may itself take two or three years. It needs careful planning, defining
the exact requirements