SoftwareA Quick Introduction to Database Management System (DBMS)

A Quick Introduction to Database Management System (DBMS)

Have you been lately trying to learn about Database Management System (DBMS) but not finding a reliable source to get information from? You can check out this piece of information to get an in-depth knowledge of DBMS. Once you are done with going through this, you can even refer to some of the DBMS tutorials, which will enhance your knowledge even further.

Here are some of the most common questions that can be helpful to you while grasping the basics.

What is a Database?

To keep it straight and simple, a database is a place where you can store data. The best way to visualize is to think of a library. Just like a library consists of wide varieties of books, similarly, huge varieties of data are stored in a database.

In the initial days of the computer era, we used to collect data and store them on tapes. There were also several limitations of this technology, such as how many times it could be written and read. They also used to be slower and much bulkier, with a big chance of crashing. This is when the idea of DBMS found its origins. Come today, when we talk about database systems, we mean the data, the DBMS, and the applications that are related to them.

Evolution of Database

No DBMS tutorial for beginners can be complete without first learning about the evolution of the database. Here are some of the information developments that have shaped the current face of DBMS.

  • Database Management System was first introduced in the 1960s by Charles Bachman
  • In the 1980s, Relational databases attracted more popularity.
  • In the 1990s, it was followed by object-oriented databases integration
  • Then came the NoSQL databases, which was a response to the progress of the internet and the requirement for the faster speed as well as the processing of unstructured data
  • In the present day scenario, it is more about Cloud databases and self-driving databases. These two are the new ways of collecting, storing, managing and utilizing data.

What is DBMS?

Database Management System, usually referred to as DBMS, is a software used for storing as well as retrieving the data of the users while taking all the required security measures. The DBMS accepts data from a certain application and then initiates providing data from the operating system.

Users can create their own databases in DBMS as per their requirements.

Benefits of DBMS

  • DBMS provides security and eliminates redundancy
  • Any and all kinds of data that exist in this world can be stored in the database
  • One can get a logical view of the process which manipulates data
  • It provides all automatic backup as well as recovery procedures
  • It comes with ACID properties, which means even in case of failure, the data are maintained in a healthy state
  • It lessens the complex relation between data
  • To support the processing and manipulation of data, DBMS is used.

Applications of Database

  • Finance: In the finance sector, DBMS is used for storing information about purchases, sales, stock of financial instruments like bonds and stocks.
  • Sales: It is used for storing information related to products, sales, and customers for easy access.
  • Banking: It is used for information, payments, account activities, deposits, loans, etc. of the customers in a secured way.
  • Universities: DBMS in universities is used for storing information of students, grades, colleges, and course registrations.
  • Telecommunication: DBMS is used in the telecommunication industry for maintaining balances, keeping call records, monthly bills, etc.
  • Airlines: Airlines used DBMS for vital reservations and scheduling information.
  • Manufacturing: In the manufacturing industry, DBMS is used for managing the supply chain and also tracking the production of items.
  • HR Management: HR Management uses DBMS for keeping information about employees, generation of paychecks, salaries, payroll, deduction, etc.

What are the popular DBMS software?

Some of the popular DBMS software include:

  • Oracle
  • MySQL
  • Microsoft Access
  • PostgreSQL
  • dBASE
  • MariaDB
  • FoxPro
  • IBM DB2
  • SQLite
  • LibreOffice Base
  • Microsoft SQL Server , to name a few

What are the various types of DBMS?

There are four database types in DBMS 

  • Hierarchical DBMS: Characterized by the tree-like structure of the database, it follows a top to bottom or bottom to the top format of storing data. The Parent-Child relationship is used to represent the relationship of data in this kind of system. There may be several children’s directories to each parent.
  • Network DBMS: In the network DBMS model, each directory can be connected to several others. This many-to-many model is useful for accommodating the complex relationship model of data within the DBMS.
  • Relational DBMS: With wide usage, the relational model of DBMS has a tabular form and uses SQL for creating the relationships through SQL keys. The data itself is kept in tabular form with rows and columns.
  • Object-Oriented DBMS: Data is stored as objects in structures called classes, and data within it is displayed through these classes. The database in this model is defined as a collection of objects.

While the above database management system tutorial helps get the essence of DBMS, to do the subject the thorough due understanding, you can head to a more detailed tutorial through the Great Learning Academy. You can take some easy-to-understand courses to quickly come up to speed on DBMS.

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