Database Management Basics

Database management is a method of managing the information that a company needs to run its business operations. It involves storing data, distributing it to applications and users, editing it as needed and monitoring changes to data and protecting against data corruption due to unexpected failure. It is an integral part of the informational infrastructure of a company which supports decision-making, corporate growth, and compliance with laws such as the GDPR and California Consumer Privacy Act.

In the 1960s, Charles Bachman and IBM along with other companies developed the first database systems. They developed into information management systems (IMS) which allowed large amounts of data to be stored and retrieved for a range of reasons. From calculating inventory, to aiding complex financial accounting functions and human resource functions.

A database is a set of tables that organizes data according to an established pattern, such as one-to-many relationships. It uses primary key to identify records and allows cross-references between tables. Each table contains a set of attributes, or fields, that contain information about data entities. Relational models, developed by E. F. “Ted” Codd in the 1970s at IBM as a database, are the most popular database type today. This model is based on normalizing data to make it simpler to use. It is also simpler to update data since it does not require the changing of certain sections of the database.

Most DBMSs can accommodate datasci.sci.dusit.ac.th various types of databases, by providing different levels of internal and external organization. The internal level deals with cost, scalability and other operational issues including the design of the database’s physical storage. The external level is the way the database is displayed in user interfaces and other applications. It may include a mix of different external views (based on different data models) and can also include virtual tables that are created from generic data to improve performance.