Overview of Database Systems

Lecture 1
Learning Outcomes
 In this chapter, you will learn:
 Data VS information
 Evolution: from file system to database system
 What a database is, the various types of
databases, and why they are valuable assets for
decision making
 The main components of the database system
 The roles and main functions of a database
management system (DBMS)
 The importance of database design

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Introduction
 Good decisions require good information
derived from raw facts
 Data is managed most efficiently when stored
in a database

Correct information?
Wrong information?

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Why Databases?
 Databases solve many of the problems
encountered in data management
 Used in almost all modern settings involving data
management:
 Business
 Research
 Administration

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Data vs. Information
 Data are raw facts
 Information is the result of processing raw
data to reveal meaning
 Information requires context to reveal
meaning
 Raw data must be formatted for storage,
processing, and presentation
 Data are the foundation of information, which
is the bedrock of knowledge

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File System Data Processing
 File systems typically composed of collection
of file folders, each tagged and kept in cabinet
 They are Organized by expected use

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File System Data Processing
 Contents of each file folder are logically
related
 Manual systems (paper-and-pencil systems)
 Served as a data repository for small data
collections
 Cumbersome for large collections

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File System Data Processing
 Computerized file systems
 Data processing (DP) specialist is hired to convert
computer file structure from manual system
 Wrote software that managed the data
 Designed the application programs

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File System Data Processing
 Initially, computer file systems resembled
manual systems
 As number of files increased, file systems
evolved
 Each file used its own application program to
store, retrieve, and modify data
 Each file was owned by individual or department
that commissioned its creation

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Problems with File System Data Processing
 File systems were an improvement over
manual system
 File systems used for more than two decades
 File systems store data files into hard disk
 Understanding the shortcomings of file systems
aids in development of modern databases
 Many problems not unique to file systems
 Even simple file system retrieval task required
extensive programming
 Ad hoc queries impossible
 Changing existing structure difficult

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Problems with File System Data Processing
 Security features difficult to program
 Often omitted in file system environments
 Summary of file system limitations:
 Requires extensive programming: example, to apply update, must
make sure all records have been considered in the programming;
may cause a lot of if/else statements and long execution time
 Cannot perform ad hoc queries: example, to search or change a
specific record of a student, is tough
 System administration is complex and difficult: example, when
update occurs, administration must check and make sure all
related records are updated. This means that data inconsistency is
unsolved.
 Difficult to make changes to existing structures: example, add in
new columns, cause the change of data access method
 Security features are likely to be inadequate: example, anyone
can make changes to the files

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Data independence and Data
Dependence
 Structural dependence: access to a file is
dependent on its own structure
 All file system programs must be modified to
conform to a new file structure
 Structural independence: change file structure
without affecting data access
 Data dependence: data access changes when
data storage characteristics change
 Data independence: data storage
characteristics do not affect data access

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Data independence and Data Dependence
(cont'd.)
 Practical significance of data dependence is
difference between logical and physical format
 Logical data format: how human views the
data
 Physical data format: how computer must
work with data
 Each program must contain:
 Lines specifying opening of specific file type
 Record specification
 Field definitions

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Data independence and Data
Dependence
 File system structure makes it difficult to
combine data from multiple sources
 Vulnerable to security breaches
 Organizational structure promotes storage of
same data in different locations- Islands of
information
 Data stored in different locations is unlikely to
be updated consistently
 Data redundancy: same data stored
unnecessarily in different places

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Data Redundancy
 Data inconsistency: different and conflicting
versions of same data occur at different
places
 Data anomalies: abnormalities when all
changes in redundant data are not made
correctly
 Update anomalies
 Insertion anomalies
 Deletion anomalies

Sources: https://www.ictlounge.com/html/types_of_databases.htm

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Introducing the Database
 Database: shared, integrated computer
structure that stores a collection of:
 End-user data: raw facts of interest to end user
 Metadata: data about data
 Provides description of data characteristics and
relationships in data
 Complements and expands value of data
 Database management system (DBMS):
collection of programs that manages structure
and controls access to data

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Role and Advantages of the DBMS
 DBMS is the intermediary between the user
and the database
 DBMS enables data to be shared
 DBMS integrates many users’ views of the
data

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Role and Advantages of the DBMS (cont’d.)
 Advantages of a DBMS:
 Improved data sharing
 Improved data security
 Better data integration
 Minimized data inconsistency
 Improved data access
 Improved decision making
 Increased end-user productivity

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Types of Databases
 Databases can be classified according to:
 Number of users
 Database location(s)
 Expected type and extent of use
 Single-user database supports only one user
at a time
 Desktop database: single-user; runs on PC
 Multiuser database supports multiple users at
the same time
 Workgroup and enterprise databases

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Types of Databases
 Centralized database: data located at a single
site
 Distributed database: data distributed across
several different sites
 Operational database: supports a company’s
day-to-day operations
 Transactional or production database
 Data warehouse: stores data used for tactical
or strategic decisions

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Types of Databases
 Three types of data
 Unstructured - data exist in their original state
 Structured - data result from formatting
 Semi-structured - data have been processed to
some extent
 Extensible Markup Language (XML) represents
data elements in textual format
 XML database supports semi-structured XML data

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Why Database Design Is Important
 Database design focuses on design of
database structure used for end-user data
 Designer must identify database’s expected use
 Well-designed database:
 Facilitates data management
 Generates accurate and valuable information
 Consistent (store useful and required data)
 Efficient execution of queries
 Poorly designed database:
 Causes difficult-to-trace errors
 Generate wrong information

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Database Systems
 Database system consists of logically related
data stored in a single logical data repository
 May be physically distributed among multiple
storage facilities
 DBMS eliminates most of file system’s problems
 Current generation stores data structures,
relationships between structures, and access
paths

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The Database System Environment
 Database system: defines and regulates the
collection, storage, management, use of data
 Five major parts of a database system:
 Hardware
 Software
 People
 Procedures
 Data

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The Database System Environment
 Hardware: all the system’s physical devices
 Software: three types of software required:
 Operating system software
 DBMS software
 Application programs and utility software

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The Database System Environment
 People: all users of the database system
 System and database administrators
 Database designers
 Systems analysts and programmers
 End users
 Procedures: instructions and rules that govern
the design and use of the database system
 Data: the collection of facts stored in the
database

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The Database System Environment
 Database systems are created and managed
at different levels of complexity
 Database solutions must be cost-effective as
well as tactically and strategically effective
 Database technology already in use affects
selection of a database system

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DBMS Functions
 Most functions are transparent to end users
 Data dictionary management
 DBMS stores definitions of data elements and
relationships (metadata) in a data dictionary
 DBMS looks up required data component
structures and relationships
 Changes automatically recorded in the dictionary
 DBMS provides data abstraction and removes
structural and data dependency

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DBMS Functions
 Data storage management
 DBMS creates and manages complex structures
required for data storage
 Also stores related data entry forms, screen
definitions, report definitions, etc.
 Performance tuning: activities that make the
database perform more efficiently
 DBMS stores the database in multiple physical
data files

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DBMS Functions
 Data transformation and presentation
 DBMS transforms data entered to conform to
required data structures
 DBMS transforms physically retrieved data to
conform to user’s logical expectations
 Security management
 DBMS creates a security system that enforces
user security and data privacy
 Security rules determine which users can access
the database, which items can be accessed, etc.

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DBMS Functions
 Multiuser access control
 DBMS uses sophisticated algorithms to ensure
concurrent access does not affect integrity
 Backup and recovery management
 DBMS provides backup and data recovery to
ensure data safety and integrity
 Recovery management deals with recovery of
database after a failure

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DBMS Functions
 Data integrity management
 DBMS promotes and enforces integrity rules
 Minimizes redundancy
 Maximizes consistency
 Data relationships stored in data dictionary used
to enforce data integrity
 Integrity is especially important in transaction-
oriented database systems

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DBMS Functions
 Database access languages and application
programming interfaces
 DBMS provides access through a query language
 Query language is a nonprocedural language
 Structured Query Language (SQL) is the de facto
query language

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DBMS Functions
 Database communication interfaces
 Current DBMSs accept end-user requests via
multiple different network environments
 Communications accomplished via:
 filling in screen forms through Web browser
 automatically publishes predefined reports on a Web
site
 connects to third-party systems to distribute
information via e-mail

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Disadvantages of Database Systems
 Increased costs: need sophisticated hardware and
software, cost of maintaining and upgrading, cost of
training
 Management complexity: interface with a lot of
technologies and keep updating according to the
latest technologies
 Maintaining currency: have to follow the latest
database trend to make sure the system is always
efficient
 Vendor dependence: performance of database is
depend on the features which offered by vendor
 Frequent upgrade/replacement cycles: need to
upgrade the features and functionalities always

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