Chapter 8 Introduction to DBMS

INTRODUCTION
A database is an organized collection of data. It is considered as a container of information.

In the manual system, you would maintain several files with different bits of information while in the
computerized system you would use database programs such as Microsoft Access, LibreOffice Base,
OpenOffice.org Base, and MySQL, to organize the data as per your business need.

Data and Information

The raw facts and figures is called data. The facts may be related to any person, place, activity or things. The
examples of data are marks scored by the students, numbers of items sold, employee names, product names,
addresses, tax codes, registration etc.

Information is the processed or organized form of data. If data is not correct, the information obtained by
processing such data may not be correct. For example, marks obtained by students and their roll
numbers is the data, while the report card/sheet is the information.

Similarly the temperature recorded is data which can be processed to find out the maximum or minimum
temperature of day and night.

Databases and DBMS

A database is a collection of logically related data items stored in an organised manner. The information being
stored in a database can be added, modified, deleted or displayed according to the requirements of the user. for
example the phone book can be considered a simple database which contains Name and Mobile number in an
orderly manner

The software that is used to create, update and retrieve data is known as database management system (DBMS).
It facilitates planning and maintenance of the database for the user. Some of the common examples of DBMS
are MS Access, Open Office or LibreOffice base, Oracle, MySQL.

Advantages of Database
1) Organised Storage : The data in the database is stored in an organised manner, so that retrieval of the
required data is fast and accurate.

2) Data Analysis : A database helps in analysis of data based on certain criteria.

3) Reduces Data Redundancy : Database reduces data redundancy (duplication of data)

4) Sharing of Data : In a database, the users of the database can share the data among themselves.

5) Data Integrity : Data integrity means that the data is accurate and consistent in the database.

6) Data Security : Database provides data security as only authorized users are allowed to access the
database and their identity are authenticated by using a username and password.

7) Privacy : The privacy rule in a database states that only the authorized users can access a database
according to its privacy constraints.
8) Backup and Recovery : Database Management System automatically takes care of backup and
recovery.

Data Models
A structure of database that describes the manner in which data will be stored and retrieved is known as data
model.

A data model consists of components for describing the data, relationships among them and the constraints
that hold data.

Types of Data Models1. Hierarchical Data Model

In this model the data is organized into a tree like structure. The data is stored in the form of records. All these
records are linked to each other at various levels, thereby forming a hierarchy. For example

Hierarchical Data Model

2. Network Data Model

This model is used to represent the many-to-many relationship among the database constraints. In other words
we can say that in this model, multiple records are linked to same master file.

Introduction to DBMS – Network Data Model

3. Relational Data Model
This data model is based on the principle of setting relationships between two or more tables of the same
database. It is the most commonly used database model.

The Relational Database Model was proposed in 1970 by E. F. Codd. The data elements are stored in different
tables and are related through the use of common fields. So relations are set between tables based on common
fields. That is why this model is termed as relational database model.

Relational Database Terminology

Entity: It is a real world object about which information is to be stored in a database. Each entity is a
collection of attributes associated with it. for example roll number, name, admission number, etc., are attributes
associated with the entity student. These attributes are represented in the form of columns.

Table: A table is a collection of logically related records. It is organised as a set of columns, and can have any
number of rows.

Field or Columns or attributes : A field is the smallest entity in the database. Fields are presented as
columns within a table. A field holds the data values of one type of data for several persons. For example, in the
Employee table the field “Emp Name” will hold the names of employees of an organisation.

Record or Row or Tuple – The data values for all the fields related to a person or object is called a record. It is
presented as rows within a table.

Primary Key : A primary key or simply a key is a field that uniquely identifies each and every record in a
table.

Foreign key : The foreign key identifies a column or set of columns in one (referencing) table that refers to
a column or set of columns in another (referenced) table.

Primary Key vs Foreign Key

NOTE : In Student Registration Table, „Enrolment_Number‟ is the primary key and in the Student Marks
Table, „Roll_Number‟ is the primary key, whereas „Enrollment_Number‟ is the foreign key.
Composite Primary Key : When primary key constraint is applied on one or more columns then it is
known as Composite Primary Key.

Relational Database : A relational database is a collection of related tables.

Data Values : Data values are the raw data represented in numeric, character or alphanumeric form.
Examples of data values are „Abhinav Bindra‟, „26‟ „shooting‟, “Chandigarh”, “10-12-2018”, etc.

NOTE: A collection of fields make a record, a collection of records make a table and a collection of tables
make a database

Objects of an RDBMS
An object in a database is a structure or a feature that is used to store, represent or retrieve data. In fact a
database is a collection of these objects given below

Table : – A table is the basic unit of any DBMS. The data is first stored in tables in row and column format.

Forms : – A form is a feature of a database using which we can enter data in a table in an easy and user
friendly manner. The data entered through the forms is stored in tables.

Queries : – A query is used to retrieve the desired information from the database. In simple terms, it is a
question asked from the database.

IT exam prep
Reports : – A report is the formatted result of queries which contains data required for decision-making and
analysis.

SUMMARY

1. The raw facts constitutes data.

2. Information is the processed or organised form of data.

3. A database is a collection of logically related data items stored in an organised manner.

4. The software that is used to create, update and retrieve data is known as database management system
(DBMS).

5. Some of the common examples of DBMS are MS Access, Open Office or LibreOffice Base, Oracle, Ingress,
MySQL.

6. Data Model is the structure of database and it describes the manner in which data will be stored and retrieved.

7. There are different data models, such as hierarchical data model, network data model and relational data
model.

8. In Hierarchical Data Model, the data is organised into a tree like structure. The data is stored in the form of
linked records.
9. In Network Data model, multiple records are linked to same master file.

10. The Relational data model is based on the principle of setting relationships between two or more tables of
the same database.

11. Entity is a real world object about which information is to be stored in a database.

12. The details associated with the entity are called attributes.

13. A table is a collection of logically related records. It is organised as a set of columns, and can have any
number of rows.

14. A field is the smallest entity in the database. These are individual record characteristics and are presented as
columns within a table.

15. Data values are the raw data represented in numeric, character or alphanumeric form.

16. The data values for all the fields related to a person or object is called a record. It is presented as rows
within a table.

17. A primary key is a field that uniquely identifies a row in a table.

18. This foreign key helps to build a relation between two or more tables in a database.

19. All the field values that are eligible to be the primary key are the candidate keys for that table.

20. Out of the candidate keys, one or two are made as primary keys. The others are the alternate keys.

21. An object in a database is a structure or a feature that is used to store, represent or retrieve data. The various
objects in a database are tables, forms, reports and queries.

22. A form is a feature of a database using which we can enter data in a table in an easy and user friendly
manner.

23. A query is used to retrieve the desired information from the database.

24. The output of a query may be displayed in the form of reports.