ITC 231 DATABASE CONCEPT
AND DESIGN
PRAYER
INTRODUCTION
DATABASE SYSTEMS
LESSON OBJECTIVES
• By the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
• Differentiate between data and information
• explain why databases are important
• Identify the various types of databases
• Describe the evolution of file system data processing
• Describe the problems associated with file system data processing
• Explain the importance of database design
• List and explain the components of a Database system (5)
• Explain the functions of a DBMS
What is this?
Baker, Kenneth D. 324917628
Doyle, Joan E. 476193248
Finkle, Clive R. 548429344
Lewis, John C. 551742186
McFerran, Debra R. 409723145
CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS
DATA
stored representations of meaningful objects and events (Hoffer, 2013).
They are raw facts (unprocessed) or records of fact and/or figures that
provides meaning or relevance to an entity
TYPES OF DATA
Structured: numbers, text, dates
Unstructured: images, video, documents
CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS continued
INFORMATION:
Data processed to increase knowledge in the person using the
data.
OR
Refers to data that has been processed or given some structure
that brings meaning to an individual or organization.
(Connolly, Begg & Holowczac, 2008)
METADATA
Data that describes the properties and context of user data
DATABASE
Organized collection of logically related data
A database is a shared, integrated computer structure that stores a
collection of end-user data and metadata (Coronel et al., 2010).
CHARACTERISTICS OF DATABASES
• Structured and Described data
• details about the extent, the structure, the type and the format of all data
and, additionally, the relationship between the data.
• Separation of Data and Applications
• An application software does not need any knowledge about the physical data
storage like encoding, format, storage place, etc.
• Data Integrity
• the quality and the reliability of the data in a database system
X’TICS contd
• Transactions
• a pack of actions which are done within a database to bring it from one
consistent state to a new consistent state.
• Data Persistence
• means that in a DBMS all data is maintained as long as it is not deleted
explicitly.
• data once stored in a database must not be lost
• When a transaction is finished even a system crash cannot put the data in
danger.
TYPES OF DATABASES
• Databases can be classified by
• Number of users
• Location
• Usage and Time sensitivity
Number of users
• Single
• Supports only one user at a time
• Desktop database: runs on PC
• Multi-user
• < 50 users is called a Workgroup database
• Supports a small number of users or a specific department
• > 50 users and across depts. Is called an enterprise database
• Supports many users across many departments
LOCATION
• A Database that…
• supports data located at a single site is called a centralized database
• supports data distributed across several different sites is called a
distributed database
Usage and Time sensitivity
• Operational database (sometimes referred to as a transactional or
production database): A database that is designed primarily to
support a company’s day-to-day operations.
• Analytical Database: Stores historical data and business metrics used
exclusively for tactical or strategic decision making
• a data warehouse focuses primarily on storing data used to generate
information required to make tactical or strategic decisions.
EVOLUTION OF FILE SYSTEMS
• MANUAL SYSTEMS
• Were often manual, paper-and-pencil systems
• accomplished through a system of file folders and filing cabinets
• was relatively small and an organization’s business users had few reporting
requirements
EVOLUTION OF FILE SYSTEMS
• COMPUTERISED SYSTEM
• Generating reports from manual file systems was slow and cumbersome
• a data processing (DP) specialist was hired to create a computer-based system
that would track data and produce required reports.
Duplicate Data
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH FILE
SYSTEM DATA PROCESSING
• PROGRAM-DATA DEPENDENCE
• DUPLICATION OF DATA (Redundancy)
• LIMITED DATA SHARING
• LENGTHY DEVELOPMENT TIMES
• EXCESSIVE PROGRAM MAINTENANCE
DBMS
• DataBase Management System
• a collection of programs that manages the database
structure and controls access to the data stored in
the database
• operates as the middleman between users
(frontend) and the database (backend) itself.
• Examples
• MS Access, DB2, ORACLE, SQL Server, SYBASE, INFORMIX etc.
Summary of DBMS Functions
• The DBMS…
1. stores the definitions of data and their relationships (metadata) in a
data dictionary; (Data Dictionary Management)
2. creates the complex structures required for data storage.(Data
storage Management)
3. transforms entered data to conform to the data structures in item
2. (Data Transformation and Presentation)
Summary of DBMS Functions
4. creates a security system and enforces security within that
system.(Security Management)
5. creates complex structures that allow multiple user access to the
data. (Multiuser Access Control)
6. performs backup and data recovery procedures to ensure data
safety. (Backup and Recovery Management)
Summary of DBMS Functions
7. promotes and enforces integrity rules to eliminate data integrity
problems. (Data Integrity Management)
8. provides access to the data via utility programs and from
programming languages interfaces. (Database Access Languages and
APIs)
9. provides end-user access to data within a computer network
environment. (Database Communication Interfaces)
ADVANTAGES OF DBMS
• Improved data sharing
• Improved data security
• Better data integration
• Minimized data inconsistency
• Improved data access
• Improved decision making
• Increased end-user productivity
DISADVANTAGES OF DBMS
• Increased costs
• Management complexity
• Maintaining currency
• Vendor dependence
• Frequent upgrade/replacement cycles
DATABASE SYSTEM
• The problems inherent in file systems make using a database system
very desirable.
• Unlike the file system, with its many separate and unrelated files, the
database system consists of logically related data stored in a single
logical data repository.
• Database system refers to an organization of components that define
and regulate the collection, storage, management, and use of data
within a database environment.
• The database system from a general management PoV is made up
of 5 components namely:
• Software
• Hardware
• People
• Procedures
• Data
DATABASE SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT
SOFTWARE
• Operating system software
• e.g. Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS, UNIX
• DBMS software
• e.g. Microsoft’s SQL Server, Oracle Corporation’s Oracle, Sun’s MySQL, and
IBM’s DB2
• Application programs and utilities
• They are used to access and manipulate data in the DBMS
HARDWARE
• refers to all of the system’s physical devices
• e.g. computers (PCs, workstations, servers, and supercomputers)
• storage devices
• printers
• network devices (hubs, switches, routers, fiber optics)
• other devices (automated teller machines, ID readers, and so on).
PEOPLE
Five types of users can be identified in a database system:
• system administrators
• database administrators
• database designers
• system analysts and programmers
• end users
PROCEDURES
• the instructions and rules that govern the design and use of the
database system
• they enforce the standards by which business is conducted within the
organization and with customers
• used to ensure that there is an organized way to monitor and audit
both the data that enter the database and the information that is
generated through the use of those data.
DATA
• covers the collection of facts stored in the database
• raw material from which information is generated
• What is to be stored in the database and how it is organized is vital to
the job of a database designer
Why Design a Database?
• Consistent Data
• Elimination of data redundancy
• Efficient execution of queries
