Fundamentals of Database Systems

1
Database and Database Users

Module 1 Databases and Database Users

Course Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand what’s the difference between data, database and database
management system.
2. Discuss the advantages of using the DBMS Approach
3. Recognizes the different users of Database

Introduction
Databases and database technology have had a serious impact on the growing use of
computers. Its play a critical role in most areas where computers are used, including
business, electronic commerce, social media, engineering, medicine, genetics, law, education,
and humanistic discipline.

Databases

Database – collection of related data.

Data – facts that can be recorded and that have implicit meaning.
For example, consider the block number, lot number, names, and telephone numbers
of the people you know. This data can be recorded in a book or stored on a hard drive, using
any technology like personal computer and software such as Microsoft Access or Excel. This
collection of related data with an implicit meaning is a database.
A database could also be generated and maintained manually, or it's going to be
computerized. For instance, a borrower's card catalog is a database which will be
created and maintained manually. A computerized database could also be created and
maintained either by a gaggle of application programs written specifically for that task
or by a database management system.
In this course we are only concerned with computerized databases.

Course Module
Database Management System

A database management system (DBMS) is a computerized system that

enables/permits users to create and maintain a database. The Database Management System
is a software system that facilitates the processes of defining, constructing, manipulating,
and sharing databases among various users and applications.
An application program can access the database by sending queries or requests for
data to the DBMS. A query typically causes some data to be retrieved; and every transaction
in the database may cause some data to be read and some data to be written into the
database.
To complete our initial definitions for our introduction, we will call the database and
DBMS software together a database system.

Figure 1.1 A simplified database system environment.

 Fundamentals of Database Systems
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Database and Database Users

The word query, is a question or an inquiry, is sometimes loosely used for all types of
interactions with databases, including modifying the data.

An Example
Simple example of a University database for maintaining information concerning students,
courses, and grades during a university environment.

Figure 1.2 A database that stores student and course information.

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 The University database is organized as five (5) files, each of which stores data
records of the same type.
• STUDENT file stores data on each student.
• COURSE file stores data on each course.
• SECTION file stores data on each section of a course.
• GRADE_REPORT file stores the grades that students receive in the various
sections they have completed.
• PREREQUISITE file stores the prerequisites of each course.

Database Users

Database Administrators
Administering the primary resource which is the database, and the secondary
resource which is the DBMS is the responsibility of the database administrator (DBA).
The DBA is liable for authorizing access to the database, coordinating and
monitoring its use, and acquiring software and hardware resources as required.
The DBA is responsible for problems such as poor security and poor system response
time.

Database Designers
Database designers are liable for identifying the data to be stored within
the database and for selecting appropriate structures to represent and store this
data.
Database designers is responsible to communicate with other database users in
order to know their requirements and to create a design that meets their
requirements.

End Users
End users are the people whose jobs require access to the database for querying,
updating, and generating reports; the database primarily exists for his or her use.
 Fundamentals of Database Systems
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Database and Database Users

Advantages of Using the DBMS Approach

Controlling Redundancy
It is used to improve the performance of queries.

Restricting Unauthorized Access

Only authorized users can access the database. Unauthorized users can’t access the
database under any circumstances as it violates the integrity constraints.

Providing Backup and Recovery

Database System automatically takes care of backup and recovery. The users don't
need to backup data periodically because this is taken care of by the DBMS.

Providing Multiple User Interfaces

Database System provide a variety of user interface, like applications for mobile
users, programming languages for programmer and common or natural languages for
standalone users.

Course Module
References and Supplementary Materials
Books and Journals
1. Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe; 2016; Fundamentals of Database Systems;
USA; Pearson
Online Supplementary Reading Materials
1. RelationalDBDesing; https://www.relationaldbdesign.com/basic-sql/module3/intro-
relational-databases.php; March 31, 2020
2. Advantages of Database Management System;
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/Advantages-of-Database-Management-System;
March 31, 2020

Online Instructional Videos

1. Introduction to Databse; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e-
wgQnsFxE&list=PLJ5C_6qdAvBHKccG0ZyOxcf_2YO6r4Q4l; March 21, 2020