what is a database, what does it do, and how does it work?

Answer 1

A database stores information in tables. Each table has a list of information in it.

A school's database might have one table called classes and another called students.

Class (two columns, classID and class)
M-101 Albegra
M-201 Trig
M-301 Calculus
M-401 Calc II

Students (two columns, studentID student)
1 Mary Jane
2 Bob Jones
3 Tom Smith

If the school wants to track which students are in which classes, they would need another table.

students_in_classes (two columns, studentID and classID):
1 M-101
2 M-101
3 M-301

This table suggests a relationship between students and classes: a student is registered for a set of classes and a class has a set of students.

Because they are good at storing relationships, most databases are called Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS).

Imagine if we managed more relationships: which students were in which class years; which students got what grades in which classes; who are the parents of each student.

Using this relational approach, if a student's named changed, we would only need to change it in one place: the students table. If the student's mother changed her name (let's say she re-marries after a divorce) that would only need to change one place.

This design -- keeping data in as few places as possible -- is called normalization.

RDBMS's use a language called SQL (Structured Query Language) to manage the information. If I wanted to get a list of all students taking Calculus, I would use this SQL:

select s.*
from students s, students_in_classes sc
where sc.classID = 'M-301'
and sc.studentID = s.studentID

Access is a relational database that comes with MS Office. If you don't have Office, MySQL is a free relational database that you can download from mysql.com if you want to learn about them.

Answer 2

A 'database' is an organized collection of data. The term originated within the computer industry, but its meaning has been broadened by popular use, to the extent that the European Database Directive (which creates intellectual property rights for databases) includes non-electronic databases within its definition. This article is confined to a more technical use of the term; though even amongst computing professionals, some attach a much wider meaning to the word than others.....

Answer 3

A database is simply a collection of information, or data, which is then compiled and sorted into logical catetgories.

A phonebook is a database, so is the information you keep in your cell phone.

When speaking about computers, a database follows the same logic- it's a collection of information a computer uses to make the things you'd like to do flow more smoothly. There are many different uses.

iTunes is another form of database. It sorts and organizes your music so that it is easily found if you need a specific song, artist, or album.

Databases are easy to create, as long as you have the correct tools for the type of database you wish to make.

Answer 4

A database stores and retrieves information.
The information is stored in tables.
The tables have links between them.
The linked tables than can be queried and the requested information can be presented to the user.
For instance yahoo questions probably has a database that stores all of the yahoo questions information in it.
One table would be Questions. This might have a column with the asks id number, the question, and the time of the question. another table would have the answers including the answer id number, the answer, comments, etc. There might be a third table with just users, their names, ages, locations, yahoo ids, questions asked and questions answered. The three tables would be linked based on the forms we fill out.
When you ask a questions the database records your user id, question etc and assigns a question number to it. then when I answer it links my user id and answer to your question.
The usefulness of databases is that you can pull all of the information easily. For instance this question page pulls the information from all of the those tables and makes it available to the viewer. It also has the benefit of storing the data fewer times. It only saves my name, password, and location once in the users table instead of re-saving it every time I answer a question.
Microsoft access is an example of a database that you can use on your computer an learn more about database. There are no doubt better programs out there but, it is fairly easy to set up and get started with.

Answer 5

A database is exactly what the name denotes. Collection of data. It can be information about anything. Lets say, you register on-line with Yahoo for the email service. You have to submit your name, address and other information. This information is stored along with information collected from other users. This collection of information can be called as a database. When you want to change any part of information, you make a request through the interface. This provides a way for you to interact with the database. Various schemes are enforced to make sure that there cannot be unauthorised access to the database.

Answer 6

A database is a collection of data-usually on SQL or Microsoft Access-that has something in common. It's an easy way to look up information like the names and addresses of employees or customers or a list of inventory with prices. What happens is somebody sorts the information and puts it in the computer-again, using SQL or Access or whatever database software they like. And then it's there if an employer or client requests it.

Answer 7

a database is an application that stores data in rows and columns
the most powerful and popular databases in the world are made by Oracle. (see www.oracle.com) . Most database are web enabled, so you can access data over the web.

You use databases all of the time but never see them, ie this inforamation is being stored in a database.

Answer 8

A database is a method of organizing data. It stores information in a software repository. Different databases work in different ways, but you can think of them as large spreadsheets of information, linked together by common threads. You retrieve information by questioning or "querying" the database for specific things and relationships.

Answer 9

A database is a collection of data arranged for ease and speed of search and retrieval.

Technology- database
A set of related files that is created and managed by a database management system (DBMS). Today, DBMSs can manage any form of data including text, images, sound and video. Database and file structures are always determined by the software. As far as the hardware is concerned, it's all bits and bytes.

Answer 10

A database is an application used with the help of a specific microsoftoffice which is microsoft (ACESS).This application is used 2 store informations in a certain way with the help of rows and columns.Each field contains different conditions than the other.It is use 2 record informations 4 certain things such as in school:Student datebirth,student number and id,number of absence/presence of a student.Its a pretty much fast application to store and find informations.....but the only problem is that it is so easy to be stolen or penetrated by hackers in a certain way which means that we nead physical protection and installing anti-hacking in each computer which uses this application to protect it from hackers.