Introduction to Database

A Brief Insight
What is Data & Information
• Data- It can be anything like a name
of person or a place or a number etc.

• Information- It is the set of data

that has been organized for direct
utilization of mankind, as information
help human being in their decision
making process.
 Concept of Database

It is the organized representation of

data

The organization of data/information is

necessary because unorganized
information has no meaning.
Organization of Database
External External External
Schema 1 Schema 2 Schema 3

Conceptual Schema

Internal
Schema

Physical
Database
 Organization of database
cont…
Schema- Separates the physical aspects of
data storage from the logical aspects of
data representation
 Internal schema-defines how and where
data organized in a physical data storage
 Conceptual schema-defines the stored data
structure in terms of database model used
 External Schema-defines a view or views of
the database for particular use.
 Database approach
Using a database system, the user or
programmer need not know the details
of how the data are stored and such
details are “transparent to the user”.

Changes can be made to data without

affecting other components of the
system.
 Characteristics of data in a
database
Shared: Data in a database is shared
among different users and applications.
Persistence: Data in a database exist
permanently.
Validity/Correctness/Integrity: Data
should be correct with respect to the
real world entity that they represent
Security: Data should be protected
from unauthorized access.
 Characteristics Contd….
Consistency: Whenever more than one
data element in a database represents
related real world values, the values
should be consistent with respect to the
relationship.
Independence: Data at different level
should be independent of each other so
that the changes one level should not
affect the other levels.
 Objective of Database System
Controlling Redundancy
Inconsistency can be avoided
Data can be shared
Standards can be enforced
Restricted unauthorized access
Integrity can be maintained
Simplicity
Data Migration
Conflicting requirement can be balanced
 Objectives of Database
System
 Controlling Redundancy: In file system,
each application has its own private
files, which can not be shared between
multiple applications, it leads to
redundancy in the stored data. By having
the centralized most of this can be
avoided. In a database system, however
this redundancy can be controlled.
 Objectives cont…
Inconsistency can be avoided: When the
same data is duplicated and changes are
made at one site, which is not propagated
to the other site, it give rise to
inconsistency. At such times the data is
said to be inconsistent.
So if the redundancy is removed chances
of having in consistent data is also
removed.
 Objectives cont…
Data can be shared: It means not only that
existing applications can share the data in
the database, but also that new
applications can be developed to operate
against that same stored data.
Standards can be enforced: With the
central control of database, the database
administrator can enforce standards.
 Objectives cont…
Restricted unauthorized access: When
multiple user share a database, it is likely
that some users will not be authorized
confidential, and hence authorized persons
are allowed to access such data.
Integrity can be maintained: Integrity means
the data in the database is accurate.
Simplicity: Data should be conceived in a
simple and neat fashion.
 Objectives cont…
Data Migration: Some data are referenced
very frequently and others are occasionally.
It is desirable to store the frequently
reference data in such a manner that they
can be accessed quickly and conveniently.
Conflicting requirement can be balanced:
Knowing the overall requirement as opposed
to the individual requirements, the database
can be structured to provide overall services
that is best for the organization.
 Limitations
• Complexity
• Size
• Higher Impact of a failure
• Cost of DBMS
• High Hardware Cost
• High Programming Cost
• Backup & Recovery are more difficult
 Limitations cont…
Complexity: Large amount of data stored in
many different formats can be interrelated in
the database
Size: Occupies many MB of disk space and
requiring substantial amounts of memory to
run efficiently.
Higher Impact of Failure: All the user &
applications rely on the availability of the
DMBS, the failure of any component can
bring operations to a halt.
 Limitations cont…
Cost of DBMS: Because a complete
DBMS is very large piece of software, it is
expensive to purchase.
High Hardware Cost: Additional memory
and processing power may be required to
run the DBMS, resulting in the need to
upgrade the hardware
 Limitations cont…
High Programming Cost: Because a DBMS
is a complex tool with many features ,it
requires experienced programmers
resulting in extra payment for their hire and
expertise.
Backup & Recovery are more difficult: This
is because of increased complexity &
because database are often processed by
several users concurrently.