File System vs DBMS: Key Differences
What is a File system?
A file system is a technique of arranging the files in a storage medium like a
hard disk, pen drive, DVD, etc. It helps you to organizes the data and
allows easy retrieval of files when they are required. It mostly consists of
different types of files like mp3, mp4, txt, doc, etc. that are grouped into
directories.
A file system enables you to handle the way of reading and writing data to
the storage medium. It is directly installed into the computer with the
Operating systems such as Windows and Linux.
What is DBMS?
Database Management System (DBMS) is a software for storing and
retrieving user's data while considering appropriate security measures. It
consists of a group of programs that manipulate the database. The DBMS
accepts the request for data from an application and instructs the DBMS
engine to provide the specific data. In large systems, a DBMS helps users
and other third-party software to store and retrieve data.
KEY DIFFERENCES:
A file system is a software that manages and organizes the files in a
storage medium, whereas DBMS is a software application that is
used for accessing, creating, and managing databases.
The file system doesn't have a crash recovery mechanism on the
other hand, DBMS provides a crash recovery mechanism.
Data inconsistency is higher in the file system. On the contrary Data
inconsistency is low in a database management system.
File system does not provide support for complicated transactions,
while in the DBMS system, it is easy to implement complicated
transactions using SQL.
File system does not offer concurrency, whereas DBMS provides a
concurrency facility.
Difference between file system vs. DBMS
Here, are the difference between File System and DBMS
File System DBMS
A file system is a software that manages and organizes DBMS or Database Management System is a software
the files in a storage medium. It controls how data is application. It is used for accessing, creating, and
stored and retrieved. managing databases.
The file system provides the details of data DBMS gives an abstract view of data that hides the
representation and storage of data. details
Storing and retrieving of data can't be done efficiently DBMS is efficient to use as there are a wide variety of
in a file system. methods to store and retrieve data.
It does not offer data recovery processes. There is a backup recovery for data in DBMS.
The file system doesn't have a crash recovery DBMS provides a crash recovery mechanism
mechanism.
Protecting a file system is very difficult. DBMS offers good protection mechanism.
In a file management system, the redundancy of data is The redundancy of data is low in the DBMS system.
greater.
Data inconsistency is higher in the file system. Data inconsistency is low in a database management
system.
The file system offers lesser security. Database Management System offers high security.
File System allows you to stores the data as isolated Database Management System stores data as well as
data files and entities. defined constraints and interrelation.
Not provide support for complicated transactions. Easy to implement complicated transactions.
The centralization process is hard in File Management Centralization is easy to achieve in the DBMS system.
System.
It doesn't offer backup and recovery of data if it is lost. DBMS system provides backup and recovery of data
even if it is lost.
There is no efficient query processing in the file You can easily query data in a database using the SQL
system. language.
These system doesn't offer concurrency. DBMS system provides a concurrency facility.
Features of a File system
Here are important elements of the file system:
It helps you to store data in a group of files.
Files data are dependent on each other.
C/C++ and COBOL languages were used to design the files.
Shared File System Support
Fast File System Recovery.
Features of DBMS
Here, are essential features of DBMS:
A user-accessible catalog of data
Transaction support
Concurrency control with Recovery services
Authorization services
The value of data is the same at all places.
Offers support for data communication
Independent utility services
Allows multiple users to share a file at the same time
Advantages of File system
Here are pros/benefits of file system:
Enforcement of development and maintenance standards.
Helps you to reduce redundancy
Avoid inconsistency across file maintenance to get the integrity of
data independence.
Firm theoretical foundation (for the relational model).
It is more efficient and cost less than a DBMS in certain situations.
The design of file processing is simpler than designing Database.
Advantages of DBMS system
Here, are pros/benefits of DBMS system:
DBMS offers a variety of techniques to store & retrieve data
Uniform administration procedures for data
Application programmers never exposed to details of data
representation and Storage.
A DBMS uses various powerful functions to store and retrieve data
efficiently.
Offers Data Integrity and Security
The DBMS implies integrity constraints to get a high level of
protection against prohibited access to data.
Reduced Application Development Time
Consume lesser space
Reduction of redundancy.
Data independence.
Application of File system
Here, are an important application of the file system:
Language-specific run-time libraries
API programs using it to make requests of the file system
It is used for data transfer and positioning.
Helps you to update the metadata
Managing directories.
Application of the DBMS system
Here, are important applications of the DBMS system:
Admission System Examination System Library System
Payroll & Personnel Management System
Accounting System Hotel Reservation System Airline Reservation
System
It is used in the Banking system for Customer information, account
activités, Payments, déposits, loans, etc.
Use for Airlines for reservations and schedules
DBMS system also used by universities to keep call records, monthly
bills, maintaining balances, etc.
Finance for storing information about stock, sales, and purchases of
financial instruments like stocks and bonds.
Disadvantages of File system
Here, are cons/drawback of the file system:
Each application has its data file so, the same data may have to be
recorded and stored many times.
Data dependence in the file processing system are data-dependent,
but, the problem is incompatible with file format.
Limited data sharing.
The problem with security.
Time-consuming.
It allows you to maintain the record of the big firm having a large
number of items.
Required lots of labor work to do.
Disadvantages of the DBMS system
Here, are some cons/drawbacks of the DBMS system:
Cost of Hardware and Software of a DBMS is quite high, which
increases the budget of your organization.
Most database management systems are often complex systems, so
the training for users to use the DBMS is required.
The use of the same program at a time by many users sometimes
lead to the loss of some data.
DBMS can't perform sophisticated calculations
Data-sets begins to grow large as it provides a more predictable
query response time.
It required a processor with the high speed of data processing.
The database can fail because or power failure or the whole system
stops.
The cost of DBMS is depended on the environment, function, or
recurrent annual maintenance cost.
