Database Management System (DBMS)

Data: Data is raw fact or figures or entity. When activities in the organization takes place, the effect of these activities need to be recorded which is known as Data.

          For example, the raw material to be purchased may have many facts like type of raw material, vendor name, address, quantity etc. Likewise Organization will have many transactions and entities which are to be recorded.

Information: Processed data is called information.

A database management system (DBMS) is a collection of program that enables user to create and maintain a database. In other words, the systematic organization of data is called database.

The DBMS is hence general purpose software system that facilities the process of defining constructing and manipulating database for various applications.

•       Defining a database involves specifying the data types, structures and constraints for the data to be stored in the database.
•      Constructing the database is the process of storing the data itself on some stored medium that is controlled by the DBMS.
•       Manipulating database includes such functions as querying the database to retrieve specific data updating the database to reflect change and generation of reports from the data.

DBMS Characteristics

The data processing system should have some characteristics to produce the information. Some of the requirements are listed below.

•  To incorporate the requirements of the organization, system should be designed for easy maintenance.
•    Information systems should allow interactive access to data to obtain new information without writing fresh programs.
•  System should be designed to co-relate different data to meet new requirements.
•  Data should be stored with minimum redundancy to ensure consist in stored data across different application.
•  An independent central repository, which gives information and meaning of available data, is required.
•    Integrated database will helps in understanding the inter-relationships between data stored in different applications.
•  The stored data should be made available for access by different users simultaneously.
•  Automatic recovery feature has to be provided to overcome the problems with processing system failure.

Advantage of using a DBMS

The following are the advantages of using DBMS.
1.       Controlling redundancy
2.       Restricting unauthorized access.
3.       Providing persistent storage for program object and data structures.
4.       Permitting interface and actions by using rules.
5.       Providing multiple user interfaces.
6.       Presenting complex relationships among data.
7.       Enforcing integrity constraints.
8.       Providing backup and recovery.