Features of RDBMS (Relational Database
Management System)
RDBMS offers a robust and structured way to manage data through the relational
model. Below are its key features:
1. Tabular Structure
Data is stored in tables (relations) with rows and columns.
Each row represents a record (tuple), and each column represents a field (attribute).
2. Data Integrity
Ensures data consistency and accuracy through various constraints:
o Primary Key: Ensures uniqueness of each row in a table.
o Foreign Key: Maintains relationships between tables.
o Unique Constraint: Prevents duplicate values in a column.
o Not Null Constraint: Ensures that specific columns cannot have null values.
3. Relationships Between Tables
Supports data relationships using foreign keys and relational operations.
Types of relationships:
o One-to-One
o One-to-Many
o Many-to-Many
4. Structured Query Language (SQL)
Provides a standardized language to interact with the database.
Operations include:
o Data Definition Language (DDL): CREATE, ALTER, DROP
o Data Manipulation Language (DML): INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE
o Data Query Language (DQL): SELECT
o Data Control Language (DCL): GRANT, REVOKE
5. Data Normalization
Eliminates redundancy and ensures efficient storage.
Divides data into related tables to avoid anomalies during insertion, deletion, or updating.
6. ACID Properties
Guarantees reliable transaction processing:
o Atomicity: Transactions are all-or-nothing.
o Consistency: Transactions maintain database integrity.
o Isolation: Concurrent transactions do not interfere with each other.
o Durability: Completed transactions are permanently saved.
7. Scalability and Performance
Handles large volumes of data efficiently.
Optimized for complex queries and indexing.
8. Security
Provides mechanisms for user authentication and access control.
Ensures data protection through encryption and permissions.
9. Multi-User Environment
Allows concurrent access to the database by multiple users without compromising data
integrity.
10. Backup and Recovery
Supports automated and manual backups to prevent data loss.
Provides tools for recovering data in case of failure.
11. Indexing
Enhances query performance by creating indexes on columns.
Supports primary, secondary, and composite indexes.
12. Data Types
Supports various data types, including:
o Numeric (e.g., INT, FLOAT)
o Text (e.g., VARCHAR, TEXT)
o Date/Time (e.g., DATE, TIMESTAMP)
o Binary (e.g., BLOB)
13. Transactions
Manages database operations in logical units called transactions.
Ensures data integrity even in case of system failures.
14. Relational Operations
Supports relational algebra operations like selection, projection, join, union, intersection, and
difference.
15. Portability
Can run on various platforms (Windows, Linux, macOS).
16. Support for Views
Allows the creation of virtual tables (views) to simplify complex queries.
17. Integration
Easily integrates with other applications and tools for reporting, analytics, and business
intelligence.
Examples of RDBMS
MySQL
PostgreSQL
Oracle Database
Microsoft SQL Server
SQLite