(DataBase Management System) Software that controls the organization, storage, retrieval, security and integrity from the

application and instructs the operating system to transfer the appropriate data. The major DBMS vendor (see Oracle database, DB2, SQL Server and ASE). MySQL is a very popular open source product (see

DBMSs may work with traditional programming languages (COBOL, C, etc.) or they may include their own pro development.

DBMSs let information systems be changed more easily as the organization's requirements change. New categor without disruption to the existing system. Adding a field to a record does not require changing any of the program field.

Major Features of a DBMS

Data Security The DBMS can prevent unauthorized users from viewing or updating the database. Using passwords, users are al subset of it known as a "subschema." For example, in an employee database, some users may be able to view sal history and medical data.

Data Integrity The DBMS can ensure that no more than one user can update the same record at the same time. It can keep dupli example, no two customers with the same customer number can be entered.

Interactive Query A DBMS provides a query language and report writer that lets users interactively interrogate the database. These all management information as needed. See query language and report writer.

Interactive Data Entry and Updating A DBMS typically provides a way to interactively enter and edit data, allowing you to manage your own files an operation does not leave an audit trail and does not provide the controls necessary in a large organization. These entry and update programs of the application.

This is a common misconception about using a desktop computer DBMS. Creating lists of data for a user's own r although complete information systems can be developed with such software, it cannot be done without understa each other in a business system (see Database Design below). In addition, some type of programming is required level or by using traditional languages.

Data Independence When a DBMS is used, the details of the data structure are not stated in each application program. The program a example, a coded equivalent of "give me customer name and balance due" would be sent to the DBMS. Without space for the full structure of the record in the program. Any change in data structure requires changing all applic

Database Design

A business information system is made up of subjects (customers, employees, vendors, etc.) and activities (order design is the process of organizing this data into related record types. The DBMS that is chosen is the one that ca while efficiently processing the transaction volume.

Organizations may use one kind of DBMS for daily transaction processing and then move the detail to another D and analysis.

Overall systems design decisions are performed by data administrators and systems analysts. Detailed database d administrators.

Hierarchical, Network & Relational

Information systems are made up of related files: customers and orders, vendors and purchases, etc. A key DBM relationships.

Hierarchical databases link records like an organization chart. A record type can be owned by only one owner. In by only one customer. Hierarchical structures were widely used with early mainframe systems; however, they are structures.

In network databases, a record type can have multiple owners. In the example below, orders are owned by both c natural relationship in business.

Relational databases do not link records together physically, but the design of the records must provide a commo for matching. Often, the fields used for matching are indexed in order to speed up the process.

In the following example, customers, orders and products are linked by comparing data fields and/or indexes wh type is needed. This method is more flexible for ad hoc inquiries. Many hierarchical and network DBMSs also pr

Object Databases

Certain information systems may have complex data structures not easily modeled by traditional data structures. when hierarchical, network and relational structures are too restrictive. Object databases can easily handle many-

Intelligent Databases

All DBMSs provide some data validation; for example, they can reject invalid dates or alphabetic data entered in up to the application programs.

Intelligent databases provide more validation; for example, table lookups can reject bad spelling or coding of item such as one that computes sales tax for an order based on zip code.

When validation is left up to each application program, one program could allow an item to be entered while ano better served when data validation is done in only one place. Mainframe DBMSs were the first to become intellig

DBMS and OS Interaction

This diagram shows the interaction between the DBMS with other system and application software running in memory.

RELATED TERMS: ASE DB2 MySQL Oracle database query language report writer SQL Server

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