File Systems

It defines how data is stored, named, retrieved, and organized on media like hard drives, SSDs, or USB
drives. Essentially, it's the system that allows you to find and use your files efficiently. Different
devices have different file systems. For example, the hard drive’s file system contains the data stored
on the device. In addition to storing files, the file system also defines how files are organized on the
device. e.g. FAT, NTFS, ext2, ext3.

Key Functions of a File System:

Organization:

File systems organize data into files and directories, creating a hierarchical structure that mirrors how
we often think about organizing information.

Storage:

They determine how data is physically stored on the storage medium, allocating space for files and
managing free space.

Access:

They provide a way for the operating system and applications to locate, open, read, and write files.

What is the Traditionally used “File System”?

The traditionally used “File Systems” were nothing but a manual way of storing data as
“Files”. Considering a scenario of a bank before the introduction of DBMS
Drawbacks of File-Based System
The issues that arise when we use a file-based system and how databases are the solution.
The issues in file systems:

1. Data redundancy
2. Data inconsistency
3. Difficult data access
4. Security problems
5. Difficult concurrent access

1. Data redundancy
Often, within an organization, files and applications are created by different programmers from
various departments over long periods. This can lead to data redundancy, a situation that occurs
when the same data is present in many places (files).

For example, if a student wants to change his/her phone number, he/she has to get it updated in
various places (files). Similarly, old records must be deleted from all sections representing that
student.

2. Data inconsistency

Data is said to be inconsistent if multiple copies of the same data do not match with each
other, which wastes storage space and duplicates effort. Consider the case where a student’s
phone number is different in the accounts department and academics department, it will be
inconsistent. Inconsistency may be because of typing errors or not updating all copies of the
same data.

3. Difficult data access

Another issue is that the user needs to know the exact location of the file in order to access data,
which can be a very cumbersome and tedious process. Let’s say the user wants to know the
hostel allotment number of a specific student from 10,000 unsorted students’ records, it will
prove to be quite monotonous.

4. Security problems

Using a file-based system may lead to unauthorized access of data. If a student gains access to
the file that contains his marks, he can change it without authorization.
5. Difficult concurrent access

Concurrency is the ability of the database to allow multiple users access to the same information
at the same time. Typically, in a file-based system, when an application opens a file, that file is
locked. This means that no one else can access the file at that moment in time.

For example, if one of the departments in the university accesses the data on a specific student,
the other departments will have to wait until the first department is done before they can access
it. Thus, concurrency is not maintained in a file-based system.

The difficulties that arise from using the file-based system have prompted the development of a
new approach to managing large amounts of organizational information called the database
approach.

Database: A database is a logical, consistent, and organized collection of related data that can
easily be stored, accessed , managed, and updated. Relational database consists of the objects
like tables, records, fields and constraints.

Database Management System: DBMS is a collection of related programs that facilitates users
to create and maintain a database. It comes as a software package designed to store and manage
databases.

Examples of database applications:

 Banking: all transactions

 Railway and airlines: reservations and schedules
 Universities: registration, grades
 Sales: customers, products, purchases
 Online retailers: order tracking, customized recommendations
 Manufacturing: production, inventory, orders, supply chain
 Human Resources: employees records, salaries, tax deductions

Advantages of using Database System in place of Traditional File Systems

Redundancy and inconsistency in the data – The data redundancy problem of the Traditional
File System has been minimized by the DBMS, here one piece of data can be present in a single
place only without scattering throughout multiple places

Data Integrity and Security: Enforces rules to maintain accurate and secure data, including
access controls and encryption.
Data Sharing – Exchange of Data between two or more devices have become so hassle-free
with the introduction of the Database system. As a single database is accessible by every
employee anyone can make any changes to the database or exchange data with each other.

Concurrent Data – DBMS provides a locking system using which one or more users can only
read the same data but can’t make any changes simultaneously.

Searching Data – In the case of the Traditional file systems, the programmer needs to write
lengthy programs every time to fetch certain information, with DBMS some 2-3 line query is
enough to fetch as many data as we want. Also, one language is supported by many databases
(with a slight variety of syntax).

System Failure – As DBMS follows ACID(Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation and Durability)

properties, even if a system failure happens in between a transaction, nothing will be lost, and we
can restart that transaction from its previous stable state.

Data Protection – DBMS comes up with lots of methods to protect the data stored inside it
rather than just Passwords

Backup of Data – Data Backup is possible in DBMS, which was not present in the Traditional
File systems.

Variation of Interfaces – DBMS comes with different kinds of interfaces like Graphicals or
Tabular.

Maintenance of the Database – As DBMS is a centralized structure it is easier to maintain it

rather than the Traditional File systems

Difference Between File System and DBMS

S. No File System DBMS
1 Data Hierarchical, stored in
Structured, stored in tables
Organization files
2 Limited, prone to data High, with mechanisms to avoid
Data Integrity
redundancy redundancy
3 Basic, relies on system Advanced, with built-in security
Data Security
security features
4 Data Direct access, less Flexible, with complex query
Accessibility flexible capabilities
5 Limited, manual backup Comprehensive, with automated
Data Recovery
required backup options
 6 Limited, not ideal for High, designed to handle large
Scalability
large datasets datasets
7 Complex requires initial setup and
Complexity Simple, easy to set up
management
8 Limited risk of data High, supports multiple users
Concurrency
corruption simultaneously

Database Environment

A database environment is a collective system of components that comprise and regulates the
group of data, management, and use of data, which consist of software, hardware, people,
techniques of handling database, and the data also.

Here, the hardware in a database environment means the computers and computer peripherals
that are being used to manage a database, and the software means the whole thing right from the
operating system (OS) to the application programs that include database management software
like M.S. Access or SQL Server. Again the people in a database environment include those
people who administrate and use the system. The techniques are the rules, concepts, and
instructions given to both the people and the software along with the data with the group of facts
and information positioned within the database environment.

Simplified View of Database Environment