Databases

What is a database?

A database is information that is set up for easy access, management and updating. Computer databases typically store aggregations of data records or files that contain information, such as sales transactions, customer data, financials and product information.

Databases are used for storing, maintaining and accessing any sort of data. They collect information on people, places or things. That information is gathered in one place so that it can be observed and analyzed. Databases can be thought of as an organized collection of information.

Businesses use data stored in databases to make informed business decisions. Some of the ways organizations use databases include the following:

• Store personal data
• Secure personal health information
• Keep track of customers.
• Improve business processes.

Some of the main organizational databases include the following:

• Relational
• Distributed
• Cloud
• NoSql
• Object-oriented
• Graph

While the different types of databases vary in schema, data structure and data types most suited to them, they are all comprised of the same five basic components.

Hardware

This is the physical device that database software runs on. Database hardware includes computers, servers and hard drives.

Software

Database software or application gives users control of the database. Database management system (DBMS) software is used to manage and control databases.

Data

This is the raw information that the database stores. Database administrators organize the data to make it more meaningful.

Data access language

This is the programming language that controls the database. The programming language and the DBMS must work together. One of the most common database languages is SQL.

Procedures

These rules determine how the database works and how it handles the data.

Setting up, operating and maintaining a database has some common challenges, such as the following:

• Data security is required because data is a valuable business asset. Protecting data stores requires skilled cybersecurity staff, which can be costly.
• Data integrity ensures data is trustworthy. It is not always easy to achieve data integrity because it means restricting access to databases to only those qualified to handle it.
• Database performance requires regular database updates and maintenance. Without the proper support, database functionality can decline as the technology supporting the database changes or as the data it contains changes.
• Database integration can also be difficult. It can involve integrating data sources from varying types of databases and structures into a single database or into data lakes and data warehouses.

A DBMS enables users to create and manage a database. It also helps users create, read, update and delete data in a database, and it assists with logging and auditing functions.