DBMS INSEM EXAM SOLUTION FEB-2023

Q1)
a) Define: Super key, candidate key, primary key, secondary key, and foreign key.
Solution:-

1. Super key: A super key is a set of attributes within a table that uniquely identifies each record
within that table. It can be a single attribute or a combination of multiple attributes.
2. Candidate key: A candidate key is a minimal super key, meaning it is a set of attributes that
uniquely identifies each record in a table, and no proper subset of those attributes can uniquely
identify a record. In simpler terms, it's a minimal set of attributes that can uniquely identify
rows in a table.
3. Primary key: A primary key is a candidate key that is chosen by the database designer to
uniquely identify each record in a table. It must be unique for each record and cannot contain
NULL values. There can be only one primary key per table.
4. Secondary key: A secondary key, also known as an alternate key, is a candidate key that is not
selected as the primary key. It provides an alternative method for accessing data and can be
used for searching and sorting records.
5. Foreign key: A foreign key is a column or a group of columns in a table that provides a link
between data in two tables. It establishes a relationship between two tables by referencing the
primary key of another table. The purpose of the foreign key is to ensure referential integrity,
meaning that values in the foreign key column must exist in the referenced table's primary key
column or be NULL.

b) Differentiate between logical data independence and physical data

Independence.
Solution:-
1. Logical Data Independence:
 Definition: Logical data independence refers to the ability to change the logical
structure of the database schema without affecting the external schema or the
applications that interact with the database.
 Focus: It focuses on insulating the users and applications from changes in the logical
organization of the data.
 Example: Adding a new table, modifying existing relationships between tables, or
changing attribute names should not require changes to the application programs or
queries that use the database.
 Importance: Logical data independence allows for greater flexibility and adaptability
in managing the database schema. It facilitates changes to accommodate evolving
business requirements without disrupting existing applications.
2. Physical Data Independence:
 Definition: Physical data independence refers to the ability to change the physical
storage characteristics of the data without affecting the logical schema or the external
views of the data.
 Focus: It focuses on separating the logical view of the data from its physical storage
implementation.
 Example: Reorganizing the storage structure, changing indexing methods, or moving
the database to a different storage system (e.g., from one type of disk to another, or
 DBMS INSEM EXAM SOLUTION FEB-2023

from local storage to cloud storage) should not require changes to the database schema
or the applications that use the data.
 Importance: Physical data independence enables database administrators to optimize
performance, scalability, and reliability by making changes to the underlying storage
infrastructure without impacting the logical structure or external interfaces of the
database.

c) Explain various function of each types of database user.

Solution:-
1. Database Administrators (DBAs):
 Function: DBAs are responsible for the overall management, maintenance, and
security of the database system. Their functions include:
 Installing and configuring database software.
 Monitoring system performance and ensuring optimal database operation.
 Performing backups, restores, and recovery operations to safeguard data
integrity.
 Managing user access and permissions to ensure security.
 Designing and implementing data backup and disaster recovery strategies.
 Planning for database scalability and growth.
 Troubleshooting and resolving issues related to database performance, security,
and availability.
2. Database Developers:
 Function: Database developers are involved in designing, implementing, and
maintaining the database schema and applications that interact with the database. Their
functions include:
 Designing the database schema, including tables, indexes, and relationships.
 Writing and optimizing SQL queries to retrieve, insert, update, and delete data.
 Developing stored procedures, triggers, and functions to enforce business rules
and data integrity constraints.
 Integrating the database with application code and APIs.
 Tuning and optimizing database performance by analyzing query execution
plans and indexing strategies.
 Testing and debugging database-related code and applications.
3. Database Users (End Users):
 Function: Database users are individuals or applications that interact with the database
to perform specific tasks or access information. Their functions depend on their roles
and requirements, but may include:
 Querying the database to retrieve information or generate reports.
 Inserting, updating, or deleting records to perform data entry or maintenance
tasks.
 Analyzing data to make business decisions or generate insights.
 Accessing data through applications or interfaces developed by database
developers.
 Collaborating with other users by sharing data and reports.
 DBMS INSEM EXAM SOLUTION FEB-2023

4. Application Developers:
 Function: Application developers are responsible for building and maintaining
software applications that interact with the database to perform specific functions or
services. Their functions include:
 Designing and developing user interfaces for data entry, retrieval, and analysis.
 Integrating the database with application logic and business processes.
 Implementing data validation and error handling mechanisms.
 Optimizing application performance by minimizing database round-trips and
optimizing data access patterns.
 Securing sensitive data and implementing authentication and authorization
mechanisms.
 Testing, debugging, and deploying applications to ensure reliability and
scalability.

Q2)
a) Draw, list and explain different component of database system architecture.
Solution:-
1. User Interface:
 Description: The user interface is the component through which users interact with the
database system. It can be a graphical user interface (GUI), a command-line interface
(CLI), or an application programming interface (API).
 Functionality: Allows users to submit queries, perform data entry and retrieval, and
access various features and functionalities provided by the database system.
 Examples: Web-based interfaces, SQL command-line interfaces, application-specific
interfaces.
2. Application Programs:
 Description: Application programs are software applications that are built on top of
the database system to provide specific functionality or services to users.
 Functionality: Utilizes the database system to store and retrieve data, implement
business logic, and handle user interactions.
 Examples: Customer relationship management (CRM) systems, enterprise resource
planning (ERP) systems, e-commerce applications.
3. Database Management System (DBMS):
 Description: The database management system is the core component of the database
system architecture. It provides an interface between the user applications and the
physical database.
 Functionality: Manages the storage, retrieval, and manipulation of data in the database.
Provides mechanisms for data security, concurrency control, transaction management,
and data integrity.
 Examples: MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle Database, Microsoft SQL Server.
4. Database Schema:
 Description: The database schema defines the logical structure of the database,
including tables, columns, indexes, constraints, and relationships.
 Functionality: Organizes and structures the data in a way that is meaningful and
efficient for storage and retrieval. Enforces data integrity constraints and relationships
between entities.
 DBMS INSEM EXAM SOLUTION FEB-2023

 Examples: Entity-Relationship (ER) diagrams, Data Definition Language (DDL)

statements.
5. Data Storage:
 Description: Data storage is where the actual data is physically stored on disk or in
memory.
 Functionality: Stores data in a structured format according to the database schema.
Provides mechanisms for efficient storage, retrieval, and indexing of data.
 Examples: Hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), in-memory databases.
6. Query Processor:
 Description: The query processor is responsible for parsing, optimizing, and executing
queries submitted by users or application programs.
 Functionality: Analyzes query statements, generates query execution plans, and
executes queries against the database.
 Examples: Query optimizer, query execution engine.
7. Concurrency Control and Transaction Management:
 Description: Concurrency control and transaction management mechanisms ensure
that multiple users or transactions can access and modify the database simultaneously
without interfering with each other.
 Functionality: Implements locking mechanisms, isolation levels, and transaction
management protocols to maintain data consistency and integrity.
 Examples: Lock manager, transaction manager.
8. Backup and Recovery:
 Description: Backup and recovery mechanisms are used to protect data against loss or
corruption and to recover from system failures or disasters.
 Functionality: Performs regular backups of the database, logs changes to the database
for recovery purposes, and restores data in the event of a failure.
 Examples: Database backup utilities, transaction logs.

b) Write note on:

i) Data Abstraction
ii) Data Modeling
Solution:-

i) Data Abstraction:

Definition: Data abstraction is a fundamental concept in computer science and database

management that involves hiding the implementation details of data and presenting only the
essential features or attributes to the users. It provides a simplified and structured view of
complex data, focusing on what data represents rather than how it is stored or manipulated.

Key Points:

1. Levels of Abstraction: Data abstraction typically involves multiple levels of abstraction,

including physical, logical, and external levels. Each level provides a different perspective of
the data, catering to the needs of different users and applications.
 DBMS INSEM EXAM SOLUTION FEB-2023

2. Encapsulation: Data abstraction encapsulates the data and operations associated with it,
providing a clear boundary between the implementation details and the interface exposed to
users. This helps in managing complexity and promoting modularity in software systems.
3. Data Independence: One of the primary benefits of data abstraction is achieving data
independence, both at the logical and physical levels. Logical data independence allows
changes to the database schema without affecting the applications using the data. Physical data
independence enables changes to the storage structures without impacting the logical schema
or application programs.
4. Facilitates Modular Design: By abstracting data into manageable units, data abstraction
facilitates modular design and development of software systems. It allows developers to focus
on specific aspects of the data without being concerned about the underlying complexities.

ii) Data Modeling:

Definition: Data modeling is the process of creating a conceptual representation of the

structure and relationships of data within a domain. It involves identifying entities, attributes,
and relationships and defining the rules and constraints that govern the data. Data modeling is
a crucial step in database design and software development, as it lays the foundation for
building efficient and scalable data systems.

Key Points:

1. Entity-Relationship (ER) Modeling: ER modeling is a popular technique used in data

modeling to represent entities (objects or concepts), attributes (properties of entities), and
relationships (associations between entities). Entities are depicted as rectangles, attributes as
ovals, and relationships as diamonds in ER diagrams.
2. Normalization: Normalization is a process used to organize data in a database efficiently by
reducing redundancy and dependency. It involves breaking down large tables into smaller,
related tables and establishing relationships between them. Normalization helps ensure data
integrity and reduces the risk of anomalies during data manipulation.
3. Data Modeling Tools: There are various data modeling tools available that facilitate the
creation and visualization of data models. These tools provide features such as entity-
relationship diagrams, data dictionaries, and schema generation. Examples include Microsoft
Visio, ERwin Data Modeler, and Lucidchart.
4. Iterative Process: Data modeling is an iterative process that involves refining and optimizing
the data model based on requirements, feedback, and changes in the domain. It requires
collaboration between stakeholders, including business analysts, database administrators, and
software developers, to ensure that the data model accurately represents the business domain.
 DBMS INSEM EXAM SOLUTION FEB-2023

Q3)
a) List and explain (Any 5) codd’s Rule.
Solution:-

1. Rule 1: The Information Rule: This rule states that all data in a database should be stored in
tables. Each table should represent a specific entity, and each row in the table should represent
an instance of that entity. Additionally, each column should represent an attribute of the entity.
2. Rule 2: The Guaranteed Access Rule: According to this rule, each piece of data in the
database should be accessible by using a combination of the table name, primary key value,
and column name. This ensures that there is a systematic way to access and retrieve any data
in the database.
3. Rule 3: Systematic Treatment of Null Values: This rule dictates that a relational DBMS must
support a representation of missing information, or NULL values, in a systematic way. This
means that the DBMS should handle NULL values consistently across all operations and
queries, ensuring predictability in data handling.
4. Rule 4: Dynamic Online Catalog Based on the Relational Model: According to this rule,
the database management system must maintain a comprehensive system catalog, also known
as a data dictionary, which stores metadata about the database structure, schema, constraints,
and other information. This catalog should be accessible to users and should adhere to the
relational model.
5. Rule 5: Comprehensive Data Sublanguage Rule: This rule specifies that a relational DBMS
must support a well-defined and comprehensive language for defining database structures,
querying data, and manipulating data. SQL (Structured Query Language) is the most common
example of such a language, providing capabilities for data definition, data manipulation, and
data control.

b) What are the different type of Attributes?

Solution:-
1. Simple Attribute: A simple attribute is an atomic value that cannot be further subdivided. For
example, in a database of employees, "EmployeeID" could be a simple attribute.
2. Composite Attribute: A composite attribute is composed of multiple simple attributes. For
instance, in a database representing addresses, "Address" might be a composite attribute
consisting of "Street," "City," "State," and "Zip Code."
3. Derived Attribute: A derived attribute is one whose value can be derived or calculated from
other attributes within the database. For example, in a database tracking employee ages, "Age"
might be a derived attribute calculated from the "Date of Birth" attribute.
4. Multi-valued Attribute: A multi-valued attribute can hold multiple values for a single entity.
For instance, in a database for a social media platform, the "Interests" attribute for a user might
contain multiple interests such as "Music," "Travel," and "Cooking."
5. Key Attribute: A key attribute uniquely identifies each entity within a database. In a table
representing employees, the "EmployeeID" might serve as the key attribute.
 DBMS INSEM EXAM SOLUTION FEB-2023

c) Write a note on converting ER diagrams into tables.

Solution:-
1. Identify Entities: Begin by identifying each entity represented in the ER diagram. Entities are
typically depicted as rectangles in ER diagrams and represent real-world objects such as
customers, orders, products, etc.
2. Define Primary Keys: For each entity, determine a primary key attribute that uniquely
identifies each instance of the entity. Primary keys are essential for ensuring data integrity and
establishing relationships between tables.
3. Convert Attributes to Columns: For each entity, create a table in the relational database
schema. Each attribute of the entity in the ER diagram corresponds to a column in the table.
Ensure that the data type and constraints for each column are appropriate based on the
attribute's characteristics.
4. Handle Composite Attributes: If an attribute in the ER diagram is composite (i.e., composed
of multiple sub-attributes), decompose it into separate columns in the relational table.
5. Handle Multi-Valued Attributes: If an attribute in the ER diagram is multi-valued, create a
separate table to represent the multi-valued attribute. This table will have a foreign key
referencing the primary key of the entity table.
6. Establish Relationships: Identify the relationships between entities in the ER diagram.
Relationships are typically represented as lines connecting entities and may have cardinality
constraints (e.g., one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many).

Q4)
a) List E-R diagram symbol & draw an E-R diagram for hospital management system
with set of patient and set of medical doctors. Associate with each patient a log of the
various test and examination conducted.

Solution:-
 DBMS INSEM EXAM SOLUTION FEB-2023

b) Explain with example Schema Diagram.

Solution:-
The design of the database is called a schema. This tells us about the structural view of the
database. It gives us an overall description of the database. A database schema defines how
the data is organised using the schema diagram. A schema diagram is a diagram which
contains entities and the attributes that will define that schema. A schema diagram only shows
us the database design. It does not show the actual data of the database. Schema can be a
single table or it can have more than one table which is related. The schema represents the
relationship between these tables.

There are three levels of the schema. The three levels of the database schema are defined
according to the three levels of data abstraction .

 View Schema
 Logical Schema
 Physical Schema
 DBMS INSEM EXAM SOLUTION FEB-2023

c) Write a short note on Enterprise constraint.

Solution:-
Enterprise constraints apply across the entire organization and may encompass various
aspects such as data management, security, compliance, workflow, and operational
procedures. They reflect the business goals, values, and requirements of the organization.
Enterprise constraints can be categorized into different types based on their nature and
impact:
 Data Integrity Constraints: Ensure the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of data
stored within the organization's systems and databases.
 Security Constraints: Define access controls, authentication mechanisms, encryption
standards, and other security measures to protect sensitive information and prevent
unauthorized access.
 Regulatory Constraints: Mandated by external regulations, laws, industry standards,
or contractual obligations, such as GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, PCI DSS, etc.
 Operational Constraints: Govern the operational procedures, workflows, and
business processes within the organization to optimize efficiency, mitigate risks, and
maintain quality standards.
 Quality Constraints: Define criteria and benchmarks for product/service quality,
customer satisfaction, and performance metrics.