DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

1. Differentiate between Forms and Reports.

Forms and Reports serve distinct purposes, though both are used for interacting with and presenting data.

Forms Reports
Purpose Forms are used primarily for Reports are used primarily for
entering, editing, or viewing data presenting or summarizing data.
from the database. They provide a They are designed to format and
user-friendly interface that allows display data in a structured way,
you to input or modify data in tables typically for printing or sharing,
without directly interacting with the without the capability to edit or enter
raw data in the tables. data.
Forms are designed for user
interaction. You can include buttons, Reports are generally read-only and
text fields, drop-down lists, and other are focused on data analysis and
controls that allow users to interact presentation, such as generating
with the data in various ways. summaries, totals, or organized lists.

Functionality Forms are interactive and dynamic. Reports are static snapshots of data
Users can navigate through records, at a particular moment. They don’t
edit, insert, and delete data. allow users to interact with the data
Forms can include validation checks, once generated.
combo boxes, checkboxes, and other Reports are often used to group and
widgets to make data entry easier and summarize data, such as calculating
more accurate. totals or averages, and to format it in
Users can easily switch between a way that is suitable for printing or
different records in a table using exporting to PDF.
navigation buttons.

2. What is a primary key? How is it different from a foreign key?

A primary key and a foreign key are the fundamental concepts in database design that establish
relationships between tables and help ensure data integrity.
A primary key is a column (or a combination of columns) in a database table that:
 Uniquely identifies each record in the table.
 It cannot contain NULL values, ensuring that every record has a valid and unique identifier.
 Ensures data integrity by making each row in the table distinct.
A foreign key is a column (or a combination of columns) in one table that:
 Refers to the primary key in another table (or possibly the same table in self-referencing
relationships).
 Establishes a relationship between two tables, enforcing referential integrity, meaning that a
record in one table corresponds to a valid record in another table.
 Ensures that values in the foreign key column must match an existing value in the referenced
primary key column (or be NULL).
3. How are the Entry required and Default Value properties of a table field in a database
different?
If the Entry Required property is set to "Yes," the user must input a value in the field, meaning the field
cannot be left blank.
The Default Value property allows you to set a predefined value for a field. If the user does not provide a
value when entering data, this default value will automatically be used in the field.
4. What is Referential Integrity? Explain its two purposes.
Referential Integrity ensures the accuracy and consistency of data in relationships between tables. In a
database, data can be linked between two or more tables using primary key and foreign key constraints.
Referential integrity helps prevent issues such as orphaned records or inconsistent data. Its two main
purposes are:
 Preventing Invalid Data Entry: It ensures that records cannot be added to a related table if there is no
corresponding record in the primary key table.
 Maintaining Data Consistency: It prevents changes or deletions in the primary key table if there are
dependent records in the related table(s). This means values in the primary key table cannot be modified or
deleted if they would leave related records without a valid link.
5. Explain relationships that can be created in tables.
The types of relationships that can be established between two tables in a relational database are:
 One-to-One: In this relationship, each record in the master table is related to only one record in the
related table, and vice versa. This type of relationship is less common and often used for dividing a table’s
data for better organization or security.
 One-to-Many: In this relationship, each record in the master table can be associated with multiple
records in the related table. However, each record in the related table is linked to only one record in the
master table. This is the most common type of relationship.
 Many-to-Many: In this relationship, multiple records in the master table can be related to multiple
records in the related table. This type of relationship usually requires an intermediary (or junction) table to
manage the connections between the two tables.
6. Differentiate between tuples and attributes of a table.
A tuple, also known as a record or row, represents a single entry or data item in a table. Each tuple
contains values for all the attributes of the table.
An attribute is a column in the table, representing a specific property or characteristic of the data. Each
attribute holds a set of values of a particular data type, one for each row in the table.
7. What are Data models? Explain different types of data models.
A data model defines the structure of a database and describes how data will be stored, organized, and
retrieved. It consists of components that define the data, the relationships between them, and the constraints
that apply to the data. The different types of data models include:
 Hierarchical Data Model: In this model, data is organized in a tree-like structure, where each record has
a single parent but can have multiple children. This model is useful for representing one-to-many
relationships.
 Network Data Model: This model allows for more complex relationships by enabling multiple records to
be linked to the same master record. It is similar to an inverted tree, where the master file is at the bottom,
and branches contain linked records. It supports many-to-many relationships.

 The Relational Data Model is based on establishing relationships between two or more tables within the
same database. Data elements are stored in different tables as rows and columns. The tables are related
through common fields (also known as keys), allowing data to be linked across tables. These relationships
between tables, based on shared fields, are what define the structure of a relational database model. This
approach makes it easier to organize, manage, and query data efficiently.

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