Introduction to Databases

CC14
Engr. Florence B. Reyes
Database, Data and Information
 What is Database?
 Database is a shared collection of logically related data, and a
description of this data, designed to meet the information
needs of an organization.

 But what is Data? Shoe size Units sold

 Data are raw facts 3 20
 Fact about something, 5 15
someone, entity, event or
other similar things 7 50
 Data dictionary or Meta-
data – the “data about data”. 9 60
11 10
Table 1.1 Example of a Day Sales of Contain Shoe Sizes.
Database, Data and Information
 Information
 Are data that has been analyzed and synthesized
 Information is data that has been processed and organized into a
significant form to facilitate decision making.

10000
Units sold

8000
6000
4000
2000
3 5 7 9 11
Shoe size

Figure 1.1 Example of Shoe Sales Based On Shoe Sizes Within 6 Months
Data Operation

Data
DATA INFORMATION
Operation

Processed facts, with

shapes and patterns

Figure 1.2 Transforming Data into Information

Approaches for Data Storage
1. Manual Filing System
2. File Based System
3. Database System
Manual Filing System
 Works well while the number of items to be stored is
small.
 It even works quite adequately when there are large
numbers of items and we have only to store and retrieve
them.
 Manual filing breaks down when we have to cross-
reference or process the information in the files.

Figure 1.3 Manual Filing System

File-Based System
 Is an early attempt to computerized the manual filing system
in response to the needs for more efficient data access.
 It is a collection of application programs that perform
services to the end-users such as the production of reports.
 Each program defines and manages its own data
 Decentralized approach on filing data.
File-Based System

Figure 1.4 Three file processing systems at Pine Valley Furniture

Advantages of File-Based System
 Fast, easy and cheap for small and simple dataset.
 Don’t need to maintain an extra Database
Management System.
Limitations of the File-based System
Approach
1. Separation and Isolation of data
 All programs maintain metadata for each file they use
 The application developer must synchronize the processing of two files
to ensure the correct data is extracted.
2. Duplication of Data
 Different systems/programs have separate copies of the same data.
 Duplication costs time, money and additional storage space to enter the
data more than once.
 Can lead to loss of data integrity (the data is no longer consistent).
Limitation of the File-based System
Approach Duplicate
Data

Figure 1.5 Three file processing systems at Pine Valley Furniture Showing Duplicate Data
Limitations of the File-based System
Approach
3. Data Dependence - Applications insulated from
how data is structured and stored.
 Logical data independence: Protection from changes in logical
structure of data.
 Physical data independence: Protection from changes in physical
structure of data.
4. Incompatible File Formats
 Programmers must design their own separate file formats
 Non-standard file formats (C and COBOL).
Limitations of the File-based System
Approach
5. Fixed Queries/Proliferation of Application
Programs
 File-based systems are very dependent to application
developer/programmer who will be the one to write the
required queries or reports.
 As a result, the type of query or report that could be
produced is fixed.
 In other organization, proliferation of files and application
programs reached a point where the Data Processing
Department, with its current resources, could not handle all
the work.
 Excessive programming maintenance.
 80% of information systems budget
Solution: Database Approach
 Database
 Is a shared collection of logically related data, and a description of
this data, designed to meet the information needs of an
organization.
 No longer owned by one department but is a shared corporate
resource.
 Instead of disconnected files with redundant data, all data items are
integrated with a minimum amount of duplication.
 Is also called a self-describing of integrated records because database
not only holds the organization’s operational data but also the
description of these data.
 Data is managed by a controlling agent
 Stored in a standardized, convenient form
Database Approach
 Data Abstraction
 Database approach separates the structure of the data from the
application program and stores it in a database. If new data structures
are added or existing structures are modified (e.g. new fields to a record,
create new files) then the application programs are unaffected, provided
they do not directly depend upon what has been modified.
 Database Application
 Is simply a program that interacts with the database at some point in its
execution
 Database System
 Includes a collection of application programs that interact with the
database.
History of Database Systems
 First-generation
 1960 - Hierarchical Structure
 1965 - Network DBMS

 Second generation
 1970-1980 - Relational Database

 Third generation
 Extended Relational
 SQL language
 DB2, Oracle…
 Object-Oriented DBMS
Functions of a Database
1. Data storage, Retrieval and update.
2. A user-accessible catalog.
3. Transaction support.
4. Concurrency control services
5. Recovery services
6. Authorization services
7. Support for data communication
8. Integrity services
9. Utility services
Database Architecture
Database Languages
 Data Definition Language (DDL)
 allows users to specify the data type and structures and the
constrains on the data to be stored in the database.
 Data Manipulation Language (DML)
 allows users to insert, update, delete, and retrieve data from
the database.
 Query Language
 is the general inquiry facility provided by DML.
 Structured Query Language (SQL) is the most
common query language.
 View Mechanism
 allows each user to have his/her own view of the database
reducing complexity by letting users see the data in the way
they want to see it.
Database Management System (DBMS)
 Database Management System (DBMS)
 DBMS is a software system that enables users to define, maintain,
and control access to the database.
 It provides controlled access to the database such as:
 A security system, which prevents unauthorized users accessing
the database;
 An integrity system, which maintains the consistency of stored
data;
 A concurrent control system, which restores the database to a
previous consistent state following a hardware or software failure;
 A user- accessing catalog, which contains descriptions of the data
in the database.
 Examples: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MS Access, Oracle
Database Management System (DBMS)

Database
Application

DBMS
Database

User

A Database System
Components of the DBMS Environment

 Hardware
 Can range from a PC to a network of computers.
 Software
 DBMS, operating system, network software (if
necessary) and also the application programs.
Components of the DBMS Environment
 Data
 Used by the organization and a description of this
data called the schema.
 Procedures
 Instructions and rules that should be applied to the
design and use of the database and DBMS.
 People
Advantages of DBMS
 Control of data redundancy.
 Data consistency
 More information from the same amount of data.
 Sharing of data.
 Improved data integrity.
 Improved security.
 Enforcement of standards.
 Economy of scale; centralized all data.
 Balanced of conflicting requirements
Advantages of DBMS
 Improved data accessibility and responsiveness.
 Increased productivity
 Improved maintenance through data independence.
 Increased concurrency.
 Improved back-up and recovery services.
Disadvantages of DBMS
 Complexity – need for new, specialized personnel
 Size
 Cost of DBMS
 Additional hardware costs
 Cost of conversion
 Higher impact of a failure
 Need for explicit backup and recovery
Roles in the Database Environment
1. Data Administrator (DA)
 Logical Design
 Perform business requirements gathering
 Analyze requirements Model business based on requirements
(conceptual and logical)
 Define and enforce standards and conventions (definition, naming,
abbreviation)
 Conduct data definition sessions with users
 Manage and administer meta data repository and Data Administration
CASE (modeling) tools
 Assist Database Administration in creating physical tables from logical
models
Roles in the Database Environment
2. Database Administrator (DBA)
 Physical Design / Operational.
 Define required parameters for database definition
 Analyze data volume and space requirements
 Perform database tuning and parameter enhancements
 Execute database backups and recoveries
 Monitor database space requirements
 Verify integrity of data in databases
 Coordinate the transformation of logical structures to
properly performing physical structures
Roles in the Database Environment
1. Database Designers (Logical and Physical)
2. Application Programmers
3. End Users
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING

DO YOU HAVE ANY

QUESTIONS?