Databases are used to process Lists These lists are stored in tables. The tables have rows and columns, much like a spreadsheet. This table is called a Database: it is a collection of rows which is organized to make the retrieval of information easier. A database can consist of a single file ( a flat database file) OR a number of related files (relational database file).
Information is organized data
A column of the table is also known as a Field: the basic element of any database. A field stores an individual piece of information, such as a phone number or a zip code.
A row of the table is also know as a Record: records are made up of fields and are identical in structure throughout a database file.
In an address book database, for example, an individual record might contain a Name, an Address, a Zip Code, and a Phone Number fields.
Everyday uses of databases- locates information instantly, updates information, alphabetize, and prioritize | Airline Reservation: | enter flight requests into flight files | | Customer Orders: | customer order database | | Hospital: | key in and retrieve information on patients | | Hotel: | enter hotel reservations | | Librarian: | uses search for literary materials | | Police | key in licence plate for ownership |
Operations that can be performed on records in a database:- add new records
- update records
- delete records
- sort by field
- search for records
- select records
View the database in many different ways
Four steps in creating a database Step One: Create a database structure - to create a database you must first create a database structure to hold the information you wish to collect
- The structure is a list or pattern that describes the attributes you want to record
- the database structure is created by defining the fields
Step Two: Collect the data - Collect the data and verify that your database structure suits the data collected
Step Three: Data Entry - After the data is collected and the structure is complete, the information for each record can be entered into the correct field
Step Four: Verify the data - Edit the database to ensure that it is correct.
- In reality, this is an on- going step. It never ends!!
Examples of database programs| Name of Database | Type of Database | Platform | Notes | | Microsoft Access | relational | PC, Mac | | | Open Office Base | relational | PC, Mac | free open source software, part of the OpenOffice Suite | | FileMaker Pro | relational | PC, Mac | | | Google Fusion Tables | flat | web based | free, part of Google Drive apps | | Zoho Records | relational | web based | free website*
similar to Google Drive.) | | | | | * Some restrictions apply |
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