Characteristics of database approach
1. Self describing nature of database
A database system not only contains the database itself but also the contains the
complete definition or description of the data structure and the constraints.
2. Insulation between program and data, and data abstraction
In database approach, if any changes are made to the data structure, then the
database access programs do not require such changes in most cases. This is
called program-data independence. Again, user application programs can operate
on the data by invoking some specific operations regardless how the operations
are implemented. This is called program-operation independence. Allowing of
program-data independence and program-operation independence is called data
abstraction.
3. Support of multiple views of data
A database typically has different types of users, each of whom may require different
perspective or view of the database. DBMS provides different views for the different
types of users.
4. Sharing of data and multiuser transaction processing
The DBMS allows multiple users to access the database at the same time and include
concurrency control software so several users can update the database at the same
time in a controlled manner so that the result of the updates is correct.
Needs of database
• Manages large amounts of data
A database stores and manages a large amount of data on a daily basis.. This would not be
possible
using any other tool such as a spreadsheet as they would simply not work..
• Accurate
A database is pretty accurate as it has all sorts of build in constraints. This means that the
information available in a database is guaranteed to be correct in most cases..
• Easy to update data
In a database, it is easy to update data using various Data Manipulation languages (DML)
available.. One of these languages is SQL..
• Security of data
Databases have various methods to ensure security of data.. There are user logins required
before accessing a database and various access specifiers. These allow only authorized users
to access the database..
• Data integrity
This is ensured in databases by using various constraints for data. Data integrity in databases
makes sure that the data is accurate and consistent in a database.
• Easy to research data
It is very easy to access and research data in a database. This is done using Data Query
Languages (DQL) which allow searching of any data in the database and performing
computations on it
Database users
1. Database Administrator
Database administrator is a user who is responsible for administering the resources
of the database and is also responsible for authorizing the access to the database.
2. Database designers
This type of user is responsible for identifying the data to be stored in the database
for choosing appropriate structure to represent and store theses data.
3. End users
This type of users are the people whose job is to access to the database for
querying, updating and generating reports.
End users are of four types-
a. Casual end users - occasionally access the database
b. Naive or parametric end users - uses some standard types of queries and
updates
c. Sophisticated end users – include engineers, scientists, business analysts
etc.
d. Stand-alone users – maintain personal databases by using readymade
program package
4. System Analyst and Application Programmer
System analysts determine the requirements of the end users, and develop
specifications for canned transactions that meet these requirements. Application
programmers implement these specifications as programs and test, debug,
document and maintain these canned transactions.
