Database management is a method of managing the information that supports a company’s business operations. It involves storing data, disseminating it to applications and users and editing it when needed and monitoring changes to data and protecting against data corruption due to unexpected failure. It is one component of an organization’s overall informational infrastructure, which supports decision-making and corporate growth, as well as compliance with laws such as the GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act.
The first database systems were developed in the 1960s by Charles Bachman, IBM and others. They developed into information management systems (IMS), which allowed large amounts of data to be stored and retrieved for a range of reasons. From calculating inventory to aiding complex financial accounting functions and human resource functions.
A database is a set of tables that arrange data according to an established pattern, such as one-to-many relationships. It uses primary key to identify records, and also allows cross-references among tables. Each table has a set of attributes or fields which provide information about data entities. The most well-known type of database that is currently in use is a relational model created by E. F. “Ted” Codd at IBM in the 1970s. This model is based upon normalizing the data, making it easier to use. It also makes it easier to update data since it eliminates the necessity of changing different sections of the database.
Most DBMSs support multiple types of databases and offer different internal and external levels of organization. The internal level deals with cost, scalability, as well as other operational issues, including the physical layout of the database. The external level is the representation of the database in user interfaces and applications. It could include a mix of different external views based on different data models and may also include virtual tables that are computed using generic data to enhance the performance.
