CSBP430

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CSBP430 Database SystemsChapter 1 Databases
and Database Users

• Mamoun Awad
• College of Information Technology
• United Arab Emirates University
• Mamoun.awad_at_uaeu.ac.ae

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In this chapter, you will learn

• Basic Definitions
• Example of a Database
• Main Characteristics of Database Technology
• Additional Benefits of Database Technology
• When Not to Use a DBMS

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Basic Definitions

• Database A collection of related data.
• Data Known facts that can be recorded and have
  an implicit meaning.
• Mini-world Some part of the real world about
  which data is stored in a database. For example,
  student grades and transcripts at a university.
• Database Management System (DBMS) A software
  package/system to facilitate the creation and
  maintenance of a computerized database.
• Database System The DBMS software together with
  the data itself. Sometimes, the applications are
  also included.

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File Terminology

• Data Raw Facts
• Field Group of characters with specific meaning
• Record Logically connected fields that describe
  a person, place, or thing
• File Collection of related records

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Simple File System
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File System Critique

• File System Data Management
• Requires extensive programming in
  third-generation language (3GL)
• Time consuming
• Makes ad hoc queries impossible
• Leads to islands of information

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File System Critique (cont.)

• Data Dependence
• Change in files data characteristics requires
  modification of data access programs
• Must tell program what to do and how
• Makes file systems cumbersome from programming
  and data management views
• Structural Dependence
• Change in file structure requires modification of
  related programs

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File System Critique (cont.)

• Data Redundancy
• Different and conflicting versions of same data
• Results of uncontrolled data redundancy
• Data anomalies
• Modification
• Insertion
• Deletion
• Data inconsistency
• Lack of data integrity

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Database Systems

• Database consists of logically related data
  stored in a single repository
• Provides advantages over file system management
  approach
• Eliminates inconsistency, data anomalies, data
  dependency, and structural dependency problems
• Stores data structures, relationships, and access
  paths

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Database vs. File Systems
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Database System Environment
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Example of a Database(with a Conceptual Data
Model)

• Mini-world for the example Part of a UNIVERSITY
  environment.
• Some mini-world entities
• - STUDENTs
• - COURSEs
• - SECTIONs (of COURSEs)
• - (academic) DEPARTMENTs
• - INSTRUCTORs
• Some mini-world relationships
• - SECTIONs are of specific COURSEs
• - STUDENTs take SECTIONs
• - COURSEs have prerequisite COURSEs
• - INSTRUCTORs teach SECTIONs
• - COURSEs are offered by DEPARTMENTs
• - STUDENTs major in DEPARTMENTs

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Main Characteristics of Database Technology

• Self-contained nature of a database system
• A DBMS catalog stores the description of the
  database. The description is called meta-data).
  This allows the DBMS software to work with
  different databases.
• Insulation between programs and data
• Called program-data independence. Allows changing
  data storage structures and operations without
  having to change the DBMS access programs.
• Data Abstraction
• A data model is used to hide storage details and
  present the users with a conceptual view of the
  database.
• Support of multiple views of the data
• Each user may see a different view of the
  database, which describes only the data of
  interest to that user.

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Additional Benefits of Database Technology

• Controlling redundancy in data storage and in
  development and maintenance efforts.
• Sharing of data among multiple users.
• Restricting unauthorized access to data.
• Providing multiple interfaces to different
  classes of users.
• Representing complex relationships among data.
• Enforcing integrity constraints on the database.
• Providing backup and recovery services.
• Potential for enforcing standards.
• Flexibility to change data structures.
• Reduced application development time.
• Availability of up-to-date information.
• Economies of scale.

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Importance of DBMS

• Makes data management more efficient and
  effective
• Query language allows quick answers to ad hoc
  queries
• Provides better access to more and better-managed
  data
• Promotes integrated view of organizations
  operations
• Reduces the probability of inconsistent data

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DBMS Manages Interaction
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Database Design

• Importance of Good Design
• Poor design results in unwanted data redundancy
• Poor design generates errors leading to bad
  decisions
• Practical Approach
• Focus on principles and concepts of database
  design
• Importance of logical design

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Database Models and the Internet

• Characteristics of Internet age databases
• Flexible, efficient, and secure Internet access
• Easily used, developed, and supported
• Supports complex data types and relationships
• Seamless interfaces with multiple data sources
  and structures
• Simplicity of conceptual database model
• Many database design, implementation, and
  application development tools
• Powerful DBMS GUI make DBA job easier

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When not to use a DBMS

• Main inhibitors (costs) of using a DBMS
• High initial investment and possible need for
  additional hardware.
• Overhead for providing generality, security,
  recovery, integrity, and concurrency control.
• When a DBMS may be unnecessary
• If the database and applications are simple, well
  defined, and not expected to change.
• 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.
• When no DBMS may suffice
• If the database system is not able to handle the
  complexity of data because of modeling
  limitations
• If the database users need special operations not
  supported by the DBMS.