Scribd
Upload
62 views

Database Architecture

This document discusses database architecture and data independence. It describes the three levels of database architecture proposed by ANSI SPARC: the view level (external level), logical level (conceptual level), and physical level (internal level). These levels separate how data is accessed by users, how it is logically represented, and how it is physically stored. The document also defines two types of data independence: logical data independence, which allows changing the logical schema without affecting applications or views, and physical data independence, which allows changing the physical schema without affecting the logical schema.

Uploaded by

CLOUD 369
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
62 views

Database Architecture

This document discusses database architecture and data independence. It describes the three levels of database architecture proposed by ANSI SPARC: the view level (external level), logical level (conceptual level), and physical level (internal level). These levels separate how data is accessed by users, how it is logically represented, and how it is physically stored. The document also defines two types of data independence: logical data independence, which allows changing the logical schema without affecting applications or views, and physical data independence, which allows changing the physical schema without affecting the logical schema.

Uploaded by

CLOUD 369
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Lesson 4: Database architecture and data independence

4.1. Introduction
In our previous topic we discussed various database models: hierarchical model,
network model, relational model and finally object oriented model. In this lesson
we will discuss database architecture and data independence.
4.2. Topic objectives
By the end of this topic you will be able to:
 Discuss the three levels of database architecture
 Describe the two types of data independence
4.3. Lesson outline
This topic has been organized as follows:
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Lesson objectives
4.3. Lesson outline
4.4. Database architecture
4.5. Data independence
4.6. Revision questions
4.7. Summary
4.8. Suggested reading
4.4. Database Architecture
The architecture of a system defines its structure in terms of components,
function of each component and interrelationships and interactions between
those components. The database architecture defines the structure of a
database systems consisting of three levels of abstractions proposed by ANSI
PARC.

ANSI SPARC ( American National Standard Institute Standard Planning And


Requirements Committee) proposed a standard three level approach to database
design.
a) View level (External level)
b) Logical level (Conceptual level)
c) Physical level (Internal level)
This three Level architecture has the aim of enabling users to access the same data
but with a personalized view of it. The separation of the internal level from the
external level means that users do not need to know how the data is physically
stored in the database. This level separation also allows the Database
Administrator (DBA) to change the database storage structures without affecting
the users' views.
a) External Level (View level)
This level describes the part of the database that is relevant to a particular user.
Application programs are found on this level. It is the highest level of abstraction
of database.
b) Logical view (Conceptual Level)
This level describes what data is stored within the whole database and how the
data is interrelated. The database ERDs are found in this level. It is therefore a
representation of the entire information content of the database in a form that is
somewhat abstract in comparison with the way in which the data is physically
stored.
c) Physical level (Internal Level)
This level describes how the database is physically represented on the computer
system. It describes how the data is actually stored in the database and on the
computer hardware. It is the lowest level of abstraction.
4.5. Data independence
Data independence is a form of database management that keeps data separated
from all programs that make use of the data. Data independence ensures that the
data cannot be redefined or reorganized by any of the programs that make use of
the data. In this manner, the data remains accessible, but is also stable and cannot
be corrupted by the applications using it. There are two types of data
independence.
a) Logical data independence.
This is the ability to change the logical schema/conceptual level without changing
the external schema/view level or application programs. It makes it possible to
change the structure of the data independently of modifying the applications or
programs that make use of the data. There is no need to rewrite current
applications as part of the process of adding to or removing data from then system.
b) Physical data independence.
This is the ability to change the physical schema/internal level without changing
the logical schema/conceptual level. This approach has to do with altering the
organization or storage procedures related to the data, rather than modifying the
data itself. Accomplishing this shift in file organization or the indexing strategy
used for the data does not require any modification to the external structure of the
applications, meaning that users of the applications are not likely to notice any
difference at all in the function of their programs.
End users

View level View LEVEL

Logical level

Physical level

Stored database

Physical data
independence

Logical data independence

4.6. Revision questions


[a]. Describe the three levels of database architecture. [6 Marks]
[b]. Discuss the logical and physical data independence. [4 Marks]
[c]. Discuss the concept of data independence and explain its importance in a
database
environment. [4
Marks]
[d]. To address the issue of data independence, the ANSI-SPARC three-level
architecture was proposed. Compare and contrast the three levels of this
model. [4 Marks]
4.7. Summary
In this lesson we have learnt about database architecture; model which provides
the basis for understanding the functionality of a database system. Three levels of
abstraction in thise model were discussed- user level view, conceptual view and
internal level
4.8. Suggestions for further reading
[1]. Silberschatz A. and et al (2001), Database System Concepts, McGraw-Hill.
[2]. Garcia-Molina H. and et al (2000), Database System: The complete Book,
Prentice Hall. [3]. Elmasri R. and Navathe S(2000), Fundamentals of Database
System, Addison Wesley.
[4]. Conolly& Begg, Database System: a practical approach to design,
implementation and management, Prentice Hall.
[5]. http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~son/662.pdffiles/662.2.pdf

You might also like