Introduction to Computing

DBMS vs. File System

File System:
File based systems were an early attempt to computerize the manual system. It is
also called a traditional based approach in which a decentralized approach was taken where each
department stored and controlled its own data with the help of a data processing specialist. The
main role of a data processing specialist was to create the necessary computer file structures, and
also manage the data within structures and design some application programs that create reports
based on file data.

In the above figure:

Consider an example of a student's file system. The student file will

Some fields are duplicated in more than one file, which leads to data redundancy. So to
overcome this problem, we need to create a centralized system, i.e. DBMS approach.

DBMS:

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A database approach is a well-organized collection of data that are related in a meaningful way
which can be accessed by different users but stored only once in a system. The various
operations performed by the DBMS system are: Insertion, deletion, selection, sorting etc.

In the above figure,

In the above figure, duplication of data is reduced due to centralization of data.

There are the following differences between DBMS and File systems:

Basis DBMS Approach File System Approach

Meaning DBMS is a collection of data. In DBMS, The file system is a collection of data. I
the user is not required to write the this system, the user has to write th
procedures. procedures for managing the database.

Sharing of data Due to the centralized approach, data Data is distributed in many files, and
sharing is easy. may be of different formats, so it isn
easy to share data.

Data Abstraction DBMS gives an abstract view of data that The file system provides the detail of th
hides the details. data representation and storage of data.

Security and DBMS provides a good protection It isn't easy to protect a file under the fi

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Protection mechanism. system.

Recovery DBMS provides a crash recovery The file system doesn't have a cras
Mechanism mechanism, i.e., DBMS protects the user mechanism, i.e., if the system crashe
from system failure. while entering some data, then th
content of the file will be lost.

Manipulation DBMS contains a wide variety of The file system can't efficiently store an
Techniques sophisticated techniques to store and retrieve the data.
retrieve the data.

Concurrency DBMS takes care of Concurrent access of In the File system, concurrent access ha
Problems data using some form of locking. many problems like redirecting the fi
while deleting some information o
updating some information.

Where to use Database approach used in large systems File system approach used in larg
which interrelate many files. systems which interrelate many files.

Cost The database system is expensive to The file system approach is cheaper t
design. design.

Data Redundancy Due to the centralization of the database, In this, the files and application program
and Inconsistency the problems of data redundancy and are created by different programmers s
inconsistency are controlled. that there exists a lot of duplication o
data which may lead to inconsistency.

Structure The database structure is complex to The file system approach has a simp
design. structure.

Data In this system, Data Independence exists, In the File system approach, there exis
Independence and it can be of two types. no Data Independence.
o Logical Data Independence
o Physical Data Independence

Integrity Integrity Constraints are easy to apply. Integrity Constraints are difficult t
Constraints implement in file system.

Data Models In the database approach, 3 types of data In the file system approach, there is n
models exist: concept of data models exists.
o Hierarchal data models
o Network data models

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o Relational data models

Flexibility Changes are often a necessity to the The flexibility of the system is less a
content of the data stored in any system, compared to the DBMS approach.
and these changes are more easily with a
database approach.

Examples Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase etc. Cobol, C++ etc.

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