DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS 1

Chapter 1: Introduction to DBMS

Introduction: Database and Database Users, Characteristics of the Database Approach,

Different people behind DBMS, Implications of Database Approach, Advantages of using
DBMS, When not to use a DBMS. Database System Concepts and architecture: Data Models,
Schemas, and Instances. DBMS Architecture and Data Independence., Database languages and
interfaces. The database system Environment, Classification of DBMS.

Introduction:
Database is a collection of related data. Database management system is software designed to assist
the maintenance and utilization of large scale collection of data. DBMS came into existence in 1960
by Charles. Integrated data store which is also called as the first general purpose DBMS. Again in
1960 IBM brought IMS-Information management system. In 1970 Edgor Codd at IBM came with new
database called RDBMS. In 1980 then came SQL Architecture- Structure Query Language. In 1980 to
1990 there were advances in DBMS e.g. DB2, ORACLE.

Data
Data is raw fact or figures or entity.

Information
The processed data is called information.

Database
A database is a collection of related data.

For example, a university database might contain information about the following:
 Entities such as students, faculty and courses.
 Relationships between entities, such as students' enrollment in courses, faculty teaching
courses.

Database Management System

 A Database Management System (DBMS) is a collection of program that enables user to create,
maintain and manipulate a database.
 The DBMS is hence a general purpose software system that facilitates the process of defining,
constructing and manipulating database for various applications.
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Characteristics of DBMS
 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.
 An independent central repository, which gives information and meaning of available data is
required.
 Integrated database will help 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.

Different people behind DBMS

These apply to "large" databases, not "personal" databases that are defined, constructed, and used
by a single person via, say, Microsoft Access.

There are two categories of people behind DBMS

a) Those who actually use and control the database content, and those who design, develop and
maintain database applications (called ―Actors on the Scene)
b) Those who design and develop the DBMS software and related tools, and the computer
systems operators (called ―Workers Behind the Scene).

a) Actors on the Scene

1. Database Administrator (DBA)
DBA is a person who is responsible for authorizing access to the database, coordinating and
monitoring its use, and Database Management acquiring software and hardware resources
as needed.

2. Database Designers
They are responsible for identifying the data to be stored and for choosing an appropriate
way to organize it. They also define views for different categories of users. The final design
must be able to support the requirements of all the user sub-groups.
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3. End Users
These are persons who access the database for querying, updating, and report generation.
They are main reason for database's existence!
o Casual end users: use database occasionally, needing different information each time;
use query language to specify their requests; typically middle- or high- level managers.
o Naive/Parametric end users: Typically the biggest group of users; frequently
query/update the database using standard canned transactions that have been carefully
programmed and tested in advance. Examples: bank tellers check account balances, post
withdrawals/deposits reservation clerks for airlines, hotels, etc., check availability of
seats/rooms and make reservations.
o Sophisticated end users: engineers, scientists, business analysts who implement their
own applications to meet their complex needs.
o Stand-alone users: Use "personal" databases, possibly employing a special- purpose
(e.g., financial) software package. Mostly maintain personal databases using ready-to-use
packaged applications.
o An example is a tax program user that creates its own internal database.
o Another example is maintaining an address book

4. System Analysts, Application Programmers, Software Engineers:

o System Analysts: determine needs of end users, especially naive and parametric users,
and develop specifications for canned transactions that meet these needs.
o Application Programmers: Implement, test, document, and maintain programs that
satisfy the specifications mentioned above.

b) Workers behind the Scene

1) DBMS system designers/implementers: provide the DBMS software that is at the
foundation of all this!
2) Tool developers: design and implement software tools facilitating database system design,
performance monitoring, creation of graphical user interfaces, prototyping, etc.
3) Operators and maintenance personnel: responsible for the day-to-day operation of the
system.
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Advantages of a DBMS
Using a DBMS to manage data has many advantages:

1. Reduced Data Redundancy:

 DBMS is a central system which provides a common interface between the data and the
various front-end programs in the application.

 It also provides a central location for the whole data in the application to reside. Due to its
centralized nature, the database system can overcome the disadvantages like duplication
of the same data in different files, wastage of storage space etc.

 since whole data resides in one central database, various programs in the application
can access data in different data files. Hence data present in one file need not be duplicate
in another.

2. Restricting unauthorized access: DBMS provides a security and authorization subsystem,

which is used for specifying restrictions on user accounts. Providing persistent storage for
program objects: Object oriented database systems make it easier for Complex runtime objects
to be saved in secondary storage so as to survive beyond termination and to be retrieval to be
later time.

3. Providing storage structure for Efficient Query Processing: DBMS maintains

indexes that are utilized to improve the execution time of queries and updates and is the
responsibility of DBA.

4. Providing Backup and recovery: Centralizing a database provides the schemes such as
recovery and backups from the failures including disk crash, power failures, software errors which
may help the database to recover from the inconsistent state to the state that existed prior to
the occurrence of the failure, through methods are very complex.

5. Providing multiple user interface: for example, query languages for casual users,
programming language interfaces for application programmers, forms and command codes for
parametric users, menu-driven interfaces for stand-alone users.

6. Representing Complex Relationships among data: A DBMS have the capability to

represent complex relationships and to retrieve related data efficiently.
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7. Enforcing Integrity constraints: Since data of the organization using database approach
is centralized and would be use by a number of users at a time. It is essential to enforce integrity-
constraints.

Functions of DBMS

1. Data Definition: The DBMS provides functions to define the structure of the data in the
application. These include defining and modifying the record structure, the type and size of fields
and the various constraints to be satisfied by the data in each field.

2. Data Manipulation: Once the data structure is defined, data needs to be inserted, modified
or deleted. These functions which perform these operations are part of DBMS. These functions
can handle plashud and unplashud data manipulation needs. Plashud queries are those which
form part of the application. Unlashed queries are ad-hoc queries which performed on a need
basis.

3. Data Security & Integrity: The DBMS contains modules which handle the security and
integrity of data in the application.

4. Data Recovery and Concurrency: Recovery of the data after system failure and concurrent
access of records by multiple users is also handled by DBMS.

5. Data Dictionary Maintenance: Maintaining the data dictionary which contains the data
definition of the application is also one of the functions of DBMS.

6. Performance: Optimizing the performance of the queries is one of the important functions

Disadvantages of DBMS
DBMS have some minor disadvantages. They are as follows

1. Cost of Hardware and Software: DBMS software is very expensive. So a lot of money has to
be paid for developing software. Therefore initial investment is more for developing software.

2. Cost of data conversion: When a computerized file-based system is replaced with a database
system, the data stored into data file must be converted to database file. It is very difficult and
costly method to convert file-based system into database.
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3. Cost of staff training: Most DBMSs are often complex systems so the training for users to use
the DBMS is required. Training is required at all levels, including programming, application,
development and database administration.

4. Appointing Technical staff: The trained technical persons such as database

administrator, application programmers, data entry operators etc are required to handle
DBMS with high salary. So it is cost effective.

5. Database Damage: In most of the organizations, all data is integrated into single database. If
the database is damaged due to power failure or if database is corrupted on the storage
media, then the valuable data may be lost forever.

Applications of DBMS
1. Effective processing complex data and data with set of the references for expression of the
relations between them.
2. Building of internet-shops and distributed information systems.
3. Building of the virtual company office and virtual kiosks.
4. Storage and reproduction of graphic images, video and audio.
5. Creation of WEB-sites, allotted to unlimited opportunities.

Role of Database Administrator

Typically there are three types of users for a DBMS:

1. The END User who uses the application. Ultimately he is the one who actually puts the data
into the system into use in business. This user need not know anything about the organization
of data in the physical level.
2. The Application Programmer who develops the application programs. He/she has more
knowledge about the data and its structure. He/she can manipulate the data using his/her
programs. He/she also need not have access and knowledge of the complete data in the
system.
3. The Data base Administrator (DBA) who is like the super-user of the system.
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Functions of DBA
1. Selection of hardware and software
 Keep up with current technological trends
 Predict future changes
 Emphasis on established off the shelf products
2. Managing data security and privacy
 Protection of data against accidental or intentional loss, destruction or misuse
 Firewalls
 Establishment of user privileges
 Complicated by use of distributed systems such as internet access and client or server
technology

When not to use a DBMS

a) Main inhibitors (costs) of using a DBMS:

i) High initial investment and possible need for additional hardware.
ii) Overhead for providing generality, security, concurrency control, recovery, and integrity
functions.
b) When a DBMS may be unnecessary:
i) If the database and applications are simple, well defined and not expected to change.
ii) If there are stringent real-time requirements that may not be met because of DBMS
overhead. If access to data by multiple users is not required.
c) When no DBMS may be sufficient:
i) If the database system is not able to handle the complexity of data because of
modelling limitations
ii) If the database users need special operations not supported by the DBMS.