HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATICS

DEPARTMENT OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS- SE 2061

CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Database Systems

Compiled By: Gizachew B.

2
Contents

 Introduction.

 Data Management Approaches

 What is Database System?

 Components of Database Systems

 Types of Database System

 Applications of DBMS

 Advantage and Limitations of DBMS

3 Learning Outcomes

By the end of this chapter, and having completed the essential readings and activities, you should be able to:

 Discuss the limitations of the file-based approach

 Describe the way the database approach overcomes the limitations of the file-based approach
 Define and explain what is meant by a database system and a database management system
 Explain the role of each of the components of a database system: data, hardware, software and users
 Present the most important features of a database management system (DBMS)
 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of database systems
4 Course Materials

Text Books
 Fundamentals of Database Systems, 7th edition by Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe
 Database Systems: Design, Implementation & Management, International, 9th edition by Peter Rob, Carlos
Coronel and Keeley Crockett
Other Books
 Database System Concepts, Fourth Edition by Silberschatz-Korth-Sudarshan
 An Introduction to Database Systems, 8th edition by C.J. Date
Websites
 www.tutorialspoint.com
5 Introduction (1)

 Data is a collection of raw facts and information is a processed data in the form that is meaningful to the user.

 The word raw indicates that the facts have not yet been processed to reveal their meaning.

 Mostly data represents recordable facts that helps in producing information, which is based on facts.

Example, if we have data about marks obtained by all students, we can then conclude about toppers

and average marks.

 In order to process data and to obtain an information, the data should be organized and structured in the way to be

easy for manipulation, accessing, searching, and etc.

 Traditionally, it is known as record keeping system or Filing system

 Each and every sector in the world such as educational, health, industrial, commercial, as a whole governmental

and non- governmental institutions have their own record keeping system.
6 Introduction (2)

 The effectiveness of data management has direct impact on the success of the institutions.

 Virtually all modern business systems rely on databases; therefore, a good understanding of how these structures are

created and their proper use is vital for any information systems professional.

 Database is a collection of related data and data is a collection of facts and figures that can be processed to produce

information.

 It is basically a computerized record keeping system (filing system).

7 Data Management Approaches (1)

 Data management is a discipline that focuses on the proper generation, storage, and retrieval of data.

 Given the crucial role that data play, it should not surprise you that data management is a core activity for any

business, government agency, service organization, or charity.

 Generally, there are two data management approaches

 Manual approach

 Computerized Approach

o File based approach

o Database approach
8 Data Management Approaches (2)

Manual approach

 In the manual approach, data storage and retrieval follows the primitive and traditional way of information

handling where cards and paper are used for the purpose.

 The data storage and retrieval will be performed using human labor.

 Files for as many event and objects as the organization are used to store information.

 Each of the files containing various kinds of information is labeled and stored in one or more cabinets.

 The cabinets could be kept in safe places for security purpose based on the sensitivity of the information

contained in it.

 Insertion and retrieval is done by searching first for the right cabinet then for the right file then the information.

 One could have an indexing system to facilitate access to the data.

9 Data Management Approaches (3)

Limitation of the Manual approach

 Prone to error

 Difficult to update, retrieve, integrate

 You have the data but it is difficult to compile the information

 Limited to small size information

 Cross referencing is difficult

10 Data Management Approaches (4)

File based Approach

 File based approaches were an early attempt to computerize the manual filing system.

 This approach is the decentralized computerized data handling method.

 It is s a collection of application programs that performs services for the end users.

 Each program defines and manages its own data.

 Since every application defines and manages its own data, the system is subjected to serious data duplication

problem.
11 Data Management Approaches (5)

Database Approach

The database approach emphasizes the integration and sharing of data throughout the organization.

 Database is just a computerized record keeping system or a kind of electronic filing cabinet.

 It is a repository for collection of computerized data files.

 It is a collection of related data in an organized way.

 Database is a collection of logically related data where these logically related data comprises entities, attributes,

relationships, and business rules of an organization's information.

 The purpose of a database is to store information and to allow users to retrieve and update that information on

demand.

 Database is designed once and used simultaneously by many users.

12 What is Database System (1)

 Database systems are designed to manage large bodies of information.

 Management of data involves both defining structures for storage of information and providing mechanisms for the

manipulation of information.

 In addition, the database system must ensure the safety of the information stored, despite system crashes or attempts

at unauthorized access.

 If data are to be shared among several users, the system must avoid possible anomalous results.
13 What is Database System (2)

 Efficient data management typically requires the use of a computer database.

 A database is a shared, integrated computer structure that stores a collection of:

 End-user data, that is, raw facts of interest to the end user.

 Metadata, or data about data, through which the end-user data are integrated and managed.

 The metadata provide a description of the data characteristics and the set of relationships that links the data found

within the database.

 For example, the metadata component stores information such as the name of each data element, the type of values

(numeric, dates, or text) stored on each data element, whether or not the data element can be left empty, and so on.
14 Components of Database System (1)

A database system is composed of four components which coordinate with each other to form an effective database system.

 Data

 Hardware
Software

 Software

 Users

Data
Database Users
Systems

Hardware
15 Components of Database System (2)

Data
 It is a very important component of the database system. Most of the organizations generate, store and process 1arge

amount of data. The data acts a bridge between the machine parts i.e. hardware and software and the users which

directly access it or access it through some application programs.

Data may be of different types.

 User Data - It consists of a table(s) of data called Relation(s) where Column(s) are called fields of attributes and rows are

called Records for tables. A Relation must be structured properly.

 Metadata - A description of the structure of the database is known as Metadata. It basically means "data about data".

System Tables store the Metadata which includes. [number of Tables and Table Names, number of fields and field Names etc.]

 Application Metadata - It stores the structure and format of Queries, reports and other applications components.
16 Components of Database System (3)

Hardware
 The hardware consists of the secondary storage devices such as hard disk on which data is stored together with the

I/O devices (mouse, keyboard, printers), processors, main memory etc. which are used for storing and retrieving the

data in a fast and efficient manner.

 Since database can range from those of a single user with a desktop computer to those on mainframe computers with

thousand of users, therefore proper care should be taken for choosing appropriate hardware devices for a required

database.
17 Components of Database System (4)

Software
 The software part consists of DBMS which acts as a bridge between the user and the database or in other words,

software that interacts with the users, application programs, and database and files system of a particular storage

media (hard disk) to insert, update, delete and retrieve data.

 A database management system (DBMS) is a collection of programs that manages the database structure and

controls access to the data stored in the database.

 In a sense, a database resembles a very well-organized electronic filing cabinet in which powerful software, known as

a database management system, helps manage the cabinet’s contents.

Example: MS-Access, MS-SQL SERVER, MySQL, Oracle etc.

18 Components of Database System (5)

Software
 DBMS is a general-purpose software system that facilitates the processes of defining, constructing, manipulating, and sharing

databases among various users and applications. (Defining a database involves specifying the data types, structures, and

constraints of the data to be stored in the database).

 The database definition or descriptive information is also stored by the DBMS in the form of a database catalog or

dictionary; it is called meta-data.

 The primary goal of a DBMS is to provide a way to store and retrieve database information that is both convenient

and efficient.
19 Components of Database System (6)

Users
 Users are those persons who need the information from the database to carry out their primary business

responsibilities i.e. Personnel, Staff, Clerical, Managers, Executives etc.

 On the basis of the job and requirements made by them they are provided access to the database totally or partially.

The various types of users which can access the database are:-

o Database Administrators (DBA)

o Database Designers

o System Analysts and Application Programmers

o End Users
20 Components of Database System…………… Users

Database Administrator (DBA)

 In any organization where many people use the same resources, there is a need for a chief administrator to oversee

and manage these resources.

 In a database environment, the primary resource is the database itself, and the secondary resource is the DBMS and

related software.

 Administering these resources is the responsibility of the database administrator (DBA).

 The DBA is responsible for authorizing access to the database, coordinating and monitoring its use, and acquiring

software and hardware resources as needed.

 The DBA is accountable for problems such as security breaches and poor system response time. In large

organizations, the DBA is assisted by a staff that carries out these functions.
21 Components of Database System…………… Users

Database Designers

 Database designers are responsible for identifying the data to be stored in the data-base and for choosing appropriate

structures to represent and store this data.

 These tasks are mostly undertaken before the database is actually implemented and populated with data.

 It is the responsibility of database designers to communicate with all prospective database users in order to

understand their requirements and to create a design that meets these requirements.

 In many cases, the designers are on the staff of the DBA and may be assigned other staff responsibilities after the

database design is completed.

 Database designers typically interact with each potential group of users and develop views of the database that meet

the data and processing requirements of these groups.

22 Components of Database System…………… Users

System analyst and Application programmers

 System analysts determine the requirements of end users, especially naive and parametric end users, and develop

specifications for standard canned transactions that meet these requirements.

 Application programmers implement these specific-cations as programs; then they test, debug, document, and

maintain these canned transactions. Such analysts and programmers—commonly referred to

as software developers or software engineers—should be familiar with the full range of capabilities provided by the

DBMS to accomplish their tasks.

End Users

 End users are the people whose jobs require access to the database for querying, updating, and generating reports;

the database primarily exists for their use.

23 Types of Database System (1)

 Databases can be classified according to:

 Number of users [single-user and multiuser]

 Data Location [centralized and distributed]

 Data Usage [Operational or Transactional and Data Warehouse]

24 Types of Database System (2)

Single-User Database Multiuser Database

 The number of users determines whether the  Multiuser database supports multiple users at the same time.

database is classified as single-user or multiuser.  When the multiuser database supports a relatively small number

 A single-user database supports only one user of users (usually fewer than 50) or a specific department within

at a time. an organization, it is called a workgroup database.

 In other words, if user A is using the database,  When the database is used by the entire organization and

users B and C must wait until user A is done. supports many users (more than 50, usually hundreds) across

 A single-user database that runs on a personal many departments, the database is known as an enterprise

computer is called a desktop database. database.

25 Types of Database System (3)

 Location might also be used to classify the database.

 For example, a database that supports data located at a single site is called a centralized database.

 A database that supports data distributed across several different sites is called a distributed database.
 26 Types of Database System (4)

 The most popular way of classifying databases today,  Data warehouse focuses primarily on storing data used to generate

however, is based on how they will be used and on information required to make tactical or strategic decisions.

the time  Such decisions typically require extensive “data massaging” (data

sensitivity of the information gathered from them. manipulation) to extract information to formulate pricing decisions, sales

 A database that is designed primarily to support a forecasts, market positioning, and so on.

company’s day-to-day operations is classified as an  Most decision support data are based on data obtained from operational

operational database (sometimes referred to as a databases over time and stored in data warehouses.

transactional database).  Additionally, the data warehouse can store data derived from many sources.

 To make it easier to retrieve such data, the data warehouse structure is quite

different from that of an operational or transactional database.

27 Applications of DBMS (1)

Applications where we use Database Management Systems are:

Telecom: There is a database to keeps track of the information regarding calls made, network usage, customer details

etc. Without the database systems it is hard to maintain that huge amount of data that keeps updating every millisecond.

Industry: Where it is a manufacturing unit, warehouse or distribution center, each one needs a database to keep the

records of ins and outs. For example distribution center should keep a track of the product units that supplied into the

center as well as the products that got delivered out from the distribution center on each day; this is where DBMS comes

into picture.

Banking System: For storing customer info, tracking day to day credit and debit transactions, generating bank

statements etc. All this work has been done with the help of Database management systems.

Sales: To store customer information, production information and invoice details.

28 Applications of DBMS (2)

Airlines: To travel though airlines, we make early reservations, this reservation information along with flight schedule is

stored in database.

Education sector: Database systems are frequently used in schools and colleges to store and retrieve the data regarding

student details, staff details, course details, exam details, payroll data, attendance details, fees details etc. There is a hell

lot amount of inter-related data that needs to be stored and retrieved in an efficient manner.

Online shopping: You must be aware of the online shopping websites such as Amazon, Flipkart etc. These sites store the

product information, your addresses and preferences, credit details and provide you the relevant list of products based on

your query. All this involves a Database management system.

Only very few applications are mentioned, this list is never going to end if we start mentioning all the DBMS

applications.
29 Assignment-1

 Discuss Benefits of DBMS

 Discuss Limitation of DBMS