Application of ICT

Lecture # 10

Qurratulann
Department of Computer Science
GC University, Lahore

The slides are adapted from the publisher’s material

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow
Overview
This chapter covers:
 What a database is, the individuals who use them, and how
databases evolved
 Important database concepts and characteristics
 Database classifications and models
 How to create and use a relational database
 How databases are used on the Web

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What Is a Database?
Database: A collection of related data stored in a manner so it can
be retrieved as needed
Database management system (DBMS): Used to create, maintain,
and access databases
A database typically consists of:
 Tables: Collection of related records
 Fields (columns): Single category of data to be stored in a database (name,
telephone number, etc.)
 Records (rows): Collection of related fields in a database (all the fields for one
customer, for example)
Relational database: Data from several tables is tied together
(related) using a field that the tables have in common

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A Simple Relational Database
Example

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What Is a Database?
Primary key: Specific field that uniquely identifies the records in
that table
 Used in a relational
database to relate tables
together
 Must be unique and a field
that doesn’t change
PC DBMSs include:
 Microsoft Access, Corel
Paradox, Lotus Approach
For more comprehensive
enterprise databases
 Oracle Database, IBM DB2, MS SQL Server

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What Is a Database?
Individuals involved with a DBMS:
 Database designers: Design the database
 Database developers: Create the database
 Database programmers: Write the programs needed to access the
database or tie the database to other programs
 Database administrators: Responsible for managing the databases within
an organization
 Users: Individuals who enter data, update data, and retrieve information
out of the database

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The Evolution of Databases

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Figure: Flat Files Figure: Tree
Example Database Example
Advantages and Disadvantages of
the
DBMS Approach
Advantages
 Faster response time
 Lower storage requirements
 Easier to secure
 Increased data accuracy
Disadvantages
 Increased vulnerability (backup is essential)

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Data Concepts and Characteristics
Data hierarchy
 Characters
 Fields/columns: Hold single pieces of data
 Records/rows: Groups of related fields
 Tables: Collection of related records
 Database: Contains a group of related tables
Entity: Something of importance to the organization
 Entities that the organization wants to store data about typically
becomes a database table
 Attributes: Characteristics of an entity
 Typically become fields in the entity’s database table

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Data Concepts and Characteristics
Entity relationships: Describe an association between
two or more entities
 One-to-one (1:1) entity relationships (not common)
e.g. each store has a single manager
 One-to-many (O:M) entity relationships (most common)
e.g. a supplier supplies more than one product to a company
 Many-to-many (M:M) entity relationships (requires a third table to tie
the tables together)
e.g. an order can contain multiple products and a product can appear
on multiple orders

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Data Concepts and Characteristics
Data definition: The process of describing the properties
of data to be included in a database table
During data definition, each field is assigned:
 Name (must be unique within the table)
 Data type (such as Text, Number, Currency, Date/Time)
 Description (optional description of the field)
 Properties (field size, format of the field, allowable range, if field is
required, etc.)
Finished specifications for a table become the table
structure

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Data Definition

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Data Concepts and Characteristics
Data dictionary: Contains all data definitions in a
database
 Table structures
Names, types and properties of each field
 Security information (passwords, etc.)
 Relationships between the tables in the database
 Current information about each table, such as the current number of
records
 Does not contain any of the data in the tables
Metadata: Data about the database tables
 Ensures that data being entered into the database does not violate
any specified criteria

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Data Concepts and Characteristics
Data integrity: The accuracy of data
 Quality of data input determines the quality of retrieved information
 Data validation: Ensuring that data entered into the database is valid
 Record validation rules: Checks all fields before changes to a record are
saved
 Can be enforced on a per transaction basis so the entire transaction will fail
if one part is invalid
 Database locking
 Prevents two individuals from changing the same data at the same time

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Data Validation

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Data Concepts and Characteristics
Data security: Protecting data against destruction and
misuse
 Protects against unauthorized access
 Database activity monitoring programs can be used to detect possible
intrusions
 Should include strict backup and disaster-recovery procedures
(disaster-recovery plan)
• Protects against data loss
Data privacy: Growing concern because of the vast
amounts of personal data stored in databases today

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Data Concepts and Characteristics

Data organization: Arranging data for efficient

retrieval
 Indexed
organization
uses an
index to
keep track
of where
data is
stored

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Data Concepts and Characteristics
Direct organization
 Uses hashing algorithms to specify the exact storage
location
 Location is based on primary key
 Algorithms should be
designed to limit collisions
Sometimes a combination of
indexing and direct organization
is used within a database
system

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Quick Quiz
1. A column in a database in which customer names are stored
would be referred to as a ______________________.
a. field
b. record
c. table
2. True or False: Data validation procedures are used to ensure
that data entered into a database matches the specified type,
format, and allowable value.
3. The ______________________ contains metadata about the
database tables in a database.
Answers:
1) a; 2) True; 3) data dictionary

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Database Classifications
 Single-user database system: Designed to be accessed
by one user
 Multiuser database system: Designed to be accessed
by multiple users (most business databases today)
 Client-server
database systems:
Has both clients
(front end) and at
least one database
server (back end)

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Database Classifications
N-tier database system: Has more than two tiers
Middle tiers contain one or more programs stored on one or more
computers
 Program code is separate from the
database
 Provides flexibility and
scalability

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Database Classifications
 Centralized database system: Database is located on a
single computer, such as a server or mainframe
 Distributed database system: Data is physically divided
among several computers connected by a network, but the
database logically looks like it is a single database
 Disk-based databases: Data is stored on hard drives
 In-memory databases (IMDBs): Data is stored in main memory
 Faster, used when performance is critical
 Good backup procedures are essential

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Database Classifications

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Quick Quiz
1. Which type of database system is beginning to be used in high-
end systems where performance is crucial?
a. In-memory databases
b. Disk-based databases
c. Single-user databases
2. True or False: With the n-tier database model, there is at least
one middle piece of software between the client and the server.
3. With a(n) ______________________ database system, the
databases used by the system are all located on a single computer.
Answers:
1) a; 2) True; 3) centralized

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Database
Models
Two older models:
 Hierarchical databases: Store data in the form of a tree, with typically
a one-to-many relationship between data entities
 Network databases: Show the relationship between data elements
usually as either one-to-many or many-to-many
Relational database management system (RDBMS)
 Data is organized in tables related by common fields
 Most widely used database model today

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The Relational Database
Model
Database design steps
 Identify the purpose of the database
 Determine the tables and fields
 Assign the fields to a table and reorganize as needed to
minimize
redundancy
(normalization)
 Finalize the
structure
(primary keys,
field properties,
etc.)

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The Relational Database
Model
Creating a relational database:
 Create the database file
 Create the structure of each individual table (in Access, can be
performed in either Design or Datasheet view)
 Enter data
• Existing data can be migrated to the new database
• New data can be added via form or the Design view
 Relate tables as needed

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The Relational Database
Model

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The Relational Database
Model

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The Relational Database
Model

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The Relational Database
Model
Retrieving information from database
Query: A request to see information from a database that matches
specific criteria
 Specifies which records should be retrieved by specifying criteria
 Can specify the fields to be displayed
 Many programs have wizards or other tools to make it easy to
create a query
 Must be designed to extract information as efficiently as possible
 Queries are saved so they can be retrieved again when needed;
proper results are displayed each time the query is run

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The Relational Database
Model

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The Relational Database
Model
Report: Formatted means of looking at a database table or the results of a
query
 Reports can pull data from more than one table
 Many programs have wizards or other tools to make it easy to
create a report
 Can be modified and customized using the Design view
 Reports are saved so they can be retrieved again when needed;
proper results are displayed each time the query is run

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The Relational Database
Model

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The Relational Database
Model
Maintaining a database
 Data in tables can be edited as needed
 Table structures can be modified when needed
 Other possible modifications:
• Adding new indexes to speed up queries
• Deleting obsolete data
• Upgrading database software, installing patches
• Repairing/restoring data that has become corrupt
• Continuing to evaluate and improve security

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Databases and the Web
Databases are commonly used on the Web
Information retrieval, e-commerce, dynamic Web pages (change based on user
input), etc.

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Databases and the Web
How Web databases work
Visitor makes request via a Web site
• Search form
• Logging on to personalize site
• Uploading user content
Web server converts the request into a database query and passes it onto the
database server, and then sends the results back to the visitor

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Databases and the Web
Middleware is used to connect two otherwise separate
applications, such as a Web server and a database management
system
Commonly written as scripts
• JavaScript
• VB Script
• CGI scripts
• Active Server Pages (ASPs)
• PHP scripts

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Databases and the Web

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 Quick Quiz
1. Which of the following is the most widely used type of database
today?
a. Network
b. Relational
c. Object-oriented
2. True or False: Databases are often used in conjunction with
dynamic Web pages.
3. A(n) _______________________ is used to extract specific
information from a database by specifying particular conditions about
the data to be retrieved.
Answers:
1) b; 2) True; 3) query

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Summary
What Is a Database?
Data Concepts and Characteristics
Database Classifications
Database Models
Databases and the Web

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