DATA

Data, even in a database, is rarely useful in its raw form. For example, in a banking application, data is
the whole collection of bank account numbers; bank customers’ names, addresses, and ages; bank
transactions and so on. Being presented with this mass of numbers will simply overwhelm the average
human — an individual simply cannot process it all. However, when data is arranged relationally, it then
becomes information, which is much more useful to users. For example, if the mass of numbers stored in
the banking database above is used to extract the names and addresses of the top 100 clients by size of
deposit, then the data has been used to provide useful information.

Information is the data that has been converted into more useful or intelligent form.

For example: Report card sheet.

The information is needed for the following reasons −

• To gain knowledge about the surroundings.

• To keep the system up to date.
• To know about the rules and regulations of the society.

Knowledge

The human mind purposefully organizes the information and evaluates it to produce knowledge.

Example of data, information and knowledge

A student secures 450 marks. Here 450 is data, marks of the student is the information and hard
work required to get the marks is knowledge.

Differences

The major differences between Data and Information are as follows −

Data Information
Data is the raw fact. It is a processed form of data.
It is not significant to a business. It is significant to a business.
Data is an atomic level piece of information. It is a collection of data.
Example: Product name, Name of student. Example: Report card of student.
It is a phenomenal fact. It is organized data.
This is the primary level of intelligence. It is a secondary level of intelligence.
May or may not be meaningful. Always meaningful.
Understanding is difficult. Understanding is easy.

Diagram
The diagram given below depicts the use of data and information in a database −

A database is an organized collection of structured information, or data, typically stored

electronically in a computer system. A database is usually controlled by a database management
system (DBMS). Together, the data and the DBMS, along with the applications that are
associated with them, are referred to as a database system, often shortened to just database.

Data within the most common types of databases in operation today is typically modeled in rows
and columns in a series of tables to make processing and data querying efficient. The data can
then be easily accessed, managed, modified, updated, controlled, and organized. Most databases
use structured query language (SQL) for writing and querying data.

These basic operations are INSERT, SELECT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements in SQL
language. Although the target database system is Oracle Database, the same techniques can be
applied to other database systems as well because the query syntax used is standard SQL and is
generally supported by all relational database systems.

The world generates an enormous amount of data from almost every aspect of life; school
records, credit cards, store merchandise, telephone systems and web sites, among others. Some
time ago, manual effort was used to track and report this information. Today, electronic database
management systems manage this information.

By definition, a database is structured collection of logically related data that is stored so that it
can easily be accessed / retrieved. Logically related data comprises entities, attributes, and
relationships of an organization’s information. Examples of databases include: Phone Address
Book, Business Customer Lists, Club Membership Lists, Company’s Employee
Database, The library database, Video Library, etc.
A manual database is one that is not computerised – i.e. not available in electronic format. A
telephone directory, an organiser or printed address book are examples of manual databases.
An olden telephone directory format

An electronic database is one that is computerised, and can be accessed/manipulated

using computer applications.

An electronic Database on a PC

What is Traditional File Processing System And Its Characteristics

What is Traditional File Processing System And Its Characteristics

What is Traditional File Processing System And Its Characteristics: Before the use of
computer, a manual file system was used to maintain the records and files. All the data was
stored in files and it makes it easy to find any information. But this system was good only for
small organizations having small number of items.

It has many disadvantages given below:

• It was time consuming.

• Inefficient to maintain the record of big firm having large number of items.
• It requires a lots of labor work to do.
• It becomes more complex when anyone requires changing the information.

To illustrate Traditional File Processing Systems definition, lets us take an example of college
where student record for examination is stored n other file and his library record is stored in
different file that creates many duplicate values like roll Number, Name and Father Name.

A typical Traditional File Processing Systems is shown in the diagram that shows program and
data independency.
 Traditional
File Processing Systems Diagram

The main highlighted in this figure is data and program independency. It means that data and
program depends upon each other. And due to this, any change in one file will affect all the
others files too.

There are many characteristics of Traditional File Processing Systems that are given below.

Characteristics OF Traditional File Processing System

• It stores data of an organization in group of files.

• Files carrying data are independent on each other.
• COBOL, C, C++ programming languages were used to design the files.
• Each file contains data for some specific area or department like library, student fees, and
student examinations.
• It is less flexible and has many limitations.
• It is very difficult to maintain file processing system.
• Any change in one file affects all the files that creates burden on the programmer.
• File in Traditional File Processing Systems are called flat files.
Overall, Traditional File Processing Systems was good in many cases in compare to manual
non computer based system but still it had many disadvantages that were overcome by Data Base
Management System.

We hope you get the basic idea behind Traditional File Processing Systems and its
characteristics. If you have any doubt about this topic then please comment below, we will
surely solve it. If you liked it then please share it with your friends.

In earlier days, data was stored manually, using pen and paper but after computer was
discovered, the same task could be done by using files. A computer File is a resource which
uniquely records data, in a storage device in a computer. There are various formats in which data
can be stored. e.g. Text files can be stored in .txt format while pictures can be stored in .png
format etc.

In case of computer files, data about data (metadata) can be stored in different lines, separated by
spaces, commas or tab to resemble tables. Each file is placed in relevant folders for the ease of
access. This can be understood from the screenshot of Notepad below. For a school named
GeeksforGeeks, having classes 1 to 5, the data can be stored in the file system in the following
way.

File Processing System :

In Computer Science, File Processing System (FPS) is a way of storing, retrieving and
manipulating data which is present in various files.

Files are used to store various documents. All files are grouped based on their categories. The
file names are very related to each other and arranged properly to easily access the files. In file
processing system, if one needs to insert, delete, modify, store or update data, one must know the
entire hierarchy of the files.

Advantages of File Processing System :

 • Cost friendly –
There is a very minimal to no set up and usage fee for File Processing System. (In most
cases, free tools are inbuilt in computers.)

• Easy to use –
File systems require very basic learning and understanding, hence, can be easily used.

• High scalability –
One can very easily switch from smaller to larger files as per his needs.

Disadvantages of File Processing System :

• Slow access time –

Direct access of files is very difficult and one needs to know the entire hierarchy of
folders to get to a specific file. This involves a lot of time.

• Presence of redundant data –

The same data can be present in two or more files which takes up more disc space.

• Inconsistent Data –
Due to data redundancy, same data stored at different places might not match to each
other.

• Data Integrity Problems –

The data present in the database should be consistent and correct. To achieve this, the
data should must satisfy certain constraints.

• Difficulty in recovery of corrupt data –

Recovery or backup of lost and corrupt data is nearly impossible in case of File
Processing System.

• Lack of Atomicity –
Operations performed in the database must be atomic i.e. either the operation takes place
as a whole or does not take place at all.

• Problem in Concurrent Access –

When a number of users operates on a common data in database at the same time then
anomalies arise, due to lack of concurrency control.
• Unauthorized Access –

Anyone who gets access to the file can read or modify the data.
building block of databases

columns/fields

tuples/rows

tables

A Database Management System (DBMS) is a software program used to create and manage an
electronic database. It provides users with tools used to add, delete, access, modify, and analyze
data stored in one location. Examples of DBMS software include: Microsoft Office Access,
dBase, SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, Informix, DB2, Paradox, FoxBase, FileMaker Pro, Lotus
Approach, etc.

Aplications of database

-hospital management system

-ATM system

-library management system

-airline reservation system

Examples of databases

MySQL, SQL Server, MongoDB, Oracle Database, PostgreSQL, Informix, Sybase, and others are all
different types of databases commonly used today. These modern databases are managed by a Database
Management System (DBMS). To interact with and manipulate the data stored in these databases, a
widely used language called Structured Query Language (SQL) is utilized.
1. Hardware

• Here the hardware means the physical part of the DBMS. Here the hardware includes output
devices like a printer, monitor, etc., and storage devices like a hard disk.
• In DBMS, information hardware is the most important visible part. The equipment which is used
for the visibility of the data is the printer, computer, scanner, etc. This equipment is used to
capture the data and present the output to the user.
• With the help of hardware, the DBMS can access and update the database.
• The server can store a large amount of data, which can be shared with the help of the user's own
system.
• The database can be run in any system that ranges from microcomputers to mainframe
computers. And this database also provides an interface between the real worlds to the
database.
• When we try to run any database software like MySQL, we can type any commands with the
help of our keyboards, and RAM, ROM, and processor are part of our computer system.
2. Software

• Software is the main component of the DBMS.

• Software is defined as the collection of programs that are used to instruct the computer about
its work. The software consists of a set of procedures, programs, and routines associated with
the computer system's operation and performance. Also, we can say that computer software is a
set of instructions that is used to instruct the computer hardware for the operation of the
computers.
• The software includes so many software like network software and operating software. The
database software is used to access the database, and the database application performs the
task.
• This software has the ability to understand the database accessing language and then convert
these languages to real database commands and then execute the database.
• This is the main component as the total database operation works on a software or application.
We can also be called as database software the wrapper of the whole physical database, which
provides an easy interface for the user to store, update and delete the data from the database.
• Some examples of DBMS software include MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, dBase, FileMaker, Clipper,
Foxpro, Microsoft Access, etc.

3. Data

• The term data means the collection of any raw fact stored in the database. Here the data are any
type of raw material from which meaningful information is generated.
• The database can store any form of data, such as structural data, non-structural data, and logical
data.
• The structured data are highly specific in the database and have a structured format. But in the
case of non-structural data, it is a collection of different types of data, and these data are stored
in their native format.
• We also call the database the structure of the DBMS. With the help of the database, we can
create and construct the DBMS. After the creation of the database, we can create, access, and
update that database.
• The main reason behind discovering the database is to create and manage the data within the
database.
• Data is the most important part of the DBMS. Here the database contains the actual data and
metadata. Here metadata means data about data.
• For example, when the user stores the data in a database, some data, such as the size of the
data, the name of the data, and some data related to the user, are stored within the database.
These data are called metadata.

4. Procedures

• The procedure is a type of general instruction or guidelines for the use of DBMS. This instruction
includes how to set up the database, how to install the database, how to log in and log out of
the database, how to manage the database, how to take a backup of the database, and how to
generate the report of the database.
 • In DBMS, with the help of procedure, we can validate the data, control the access and reduce
the traffic between the server and the clients. The DBMS can offer better performance to
extensive or complex business logic when the user follows all the procedures correctly.
• The main purpose of the procedure is to guide the user during the management and operation
of the database.
• The procedure of the databases is so similar to the function of the database. The major
difference between the database procedure and database function is that the database function
acts the same as the SQL statement. In contrast, the database procedure is invoked using the
CALL statement of the DBMS.
• Database procedures can be created in two ways in enterprise architecture. These two ways are
as below.
• The individual object or the default object.
• The operations in a container.

1. CREATE [OR REPLACE] PROCEDURE procedure_name (<Argument> {IN, OUT, IN

OUT}
2. <Datatype>,...)
3. IS
4. Declaration section<variable, constant> ;
5. BEGIN
6. Execution section
7. EXCEPTION
8. Exception section
9. END

5. Database Access Language

• Database Access Language is a simple language that allows users to write commands to perform
the desired operations on the data that is stored in the database.
• Database Access Language is a language used to write commands to access, upsert, and delete
data stored in a database.
• Users can write commands or query the database using Database Access Language before
submitting them to the database for execution.
• Through utilizing the language, users can create new databases and tables, insert data and
delete data.
• Examples of database languages are SQL (structured query language), My Access, Oracle, etc. A
database language is comprised of two languages.

1. Data Definition Language(DDL):It is used to construct a database. DDL implements

database schema at the physical, logical, and external levels.

The following commands serve as the base for all DDL commands:

• ALTER<object>
• COMMENT
• CREATE<object>
• DESCRIBE<object>
 • DROP<object>
• SHOW<object>
• USE<object>

2. Data Manipulation Language(DML): It is used to access a database. The DML provides the
statements to retrieve, modify, insert and delete the data from the database.

The following commands serve as the base for all DML commands:

• INSERT
• UPDATE
• DELETE
• LOCK
• CALL
• EXPLAIN PLAN

6. People

• The people who control and manage the databases and perform different types of operations on
the database in the DBMS.
• The people include database administrator, software developer, and End-user.
• Database administrator-database administrator is the one who manages the complete database
management system. DBA takes care of the security of the DBMS, its availability, managing the
license keys, managing user accounts and access, etc.
• Software developer- theThis user group is involved in developing and designing the parts of
DBMS. They can handle massive quantities of data, modify and edit databases, design and
develop new databases, and troubleshoot database issues.
• End user - These days, all modern web or mobile applications store user data. How do you think
they do it? Yes, applications are programmed in such a way that they collect user data and store
the data on a DBMS system running on their server. End users are the ones who store, retrieve,
update and delete data.
• The users of the database can be classified into different groups.
i. Native Users
ii. Online Users
iii. Sophisticated Users
iv. Specialized Users
v. Application Users
vi. DBA - Database Administrator