Chapter 1

Introduction to Databases

Compiled By Dr Muhammad Ali Memon Additional Source: Virtual University

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005
Chapter 1 - Objectives

 Some common uses of database systems.

 Characteristics of file-based systems.
 Problems with file-based approach.
 Meaning of the term database.
 Meaning of the term Database Management
System (DBMS).

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Chapter 1 - Objectives
 Typical functions of a DBMS.
 Major components of the DBMS environment.
 Personnel involved in the DBMS environment.
 History of the development of DBMSs.
 Advantages and disadvantages of DBMSs.

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Examples of Database Applications

 Purchases from the supermarket

 Purchases using your credit card
 Booking a holiday at the travel agents
 Using the local library
 Taking out insurance
 Renting a video
 Using the Internet
 Studying at university

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Common Terms
 Data
 Information

Database Management system

(DBMS)

© Virtual University
Common Terms
 Data: Facts concerning things, such as people,
objects, or events

© Virtual University
 Common Terms
 Information: Data that have been processed and presented in
a form suitable for human interpretation

© Virtual University
Data, Information
and Knowledge
Amir Shoes Amir is most
Databa
?
Mohsin Scarves likely to buy new
se product
Tahira Jewelry
Jahangir Groceries
Queries
50,000 MoU Tahira is profitable
46,800 Qty customer and is likely
29,200 Income to switch carriers
75,500 Education

Data Information Knowledge &

© Virtual University
Customer Insight
 Common Terms
DBMS:
A software that handles all access to the
database

© Virtual University
 Common Terms
DBMS:
A software that is responsible for applying the
authorisation checks and validation procedures

© Virtual University
File-Based Systems

 Collection of application programs that

perform services for the end users (e.g. reports).

 Each program defines and manages its own

data.

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

File-Based Processing

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Limitations of File-Based Approach
 Separation and isolation of data
– Each program maintains its own set of data.
– Users of one program may be unaware of
potentially useful data held by other programs.

 Duplication of data
– Same data is held by different programs.
– Wasted space and potentially different values
and/or different formats for the same item.

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Limitations of File-Based Approach

 Incompatible file formats

– Programs are written in different languages, and so
cannot easily access each other’s files.

 Fixed Queries/Proliferation of application

programs
– Programs are written to satisfy particular functions.
– Any new requirement needs a new program.

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Database Approach
 Arose because:
– Definition of data was embedded in application
programs, rather than being stored separately and
independently.
– No control over access and manipulation of data
beyond that imposed by application programs.

 Result:
– the database and Database Management System
(DBMS).

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Database
 Shared collection of logically related data (and
a description of this data), designed to meet the
information needs of an organization.

 System catalog (metadata) provides description

of data to enable program–data independence.

 Logically related data comprises entities,

attributes, and relationships of an
organization’s information.

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

File Processing Systems
Library Examination Registration

Library Examination Registration

Applications Applications Applications

Library Examination Registration

Data Data Data
Files Files Files
© Virtual University
Program and Data Interdependence
 File Processing Systems

Library Examination Registration

Reg_Number Reg_Number Reg_Number

Name Name Name

Father Name Address Father Name

Books Issued Class Phone

Fine Semester Address

Grade Class

Duplication of Data
Vulnerable to Inconsistency
© Virtual University
 Advantages of Database Approach
Library Examination Registration

Library Examination Registration

Applications Applications Applications

Database
Management
System

- Data Sharing University - Data Independence

Students
- Controlled Redundancy Database - Better Data Integrity
© Virtual University
Database Management System (DBMS)

 A software system that enables users to define,

create, maintain, and control access to the
database.

 (Database) application program: a computer

program that interacts with database by
issuing an appropriate request (SQL
statement) to the DBMS.

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Database Management System (DBMS)

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Database Advantages

 Data consistency
 Better data security
 Improved data standards
 Balancing of conflicting requirements
 Faster development of new applications
 Better data accessibility

 Economy of scale
 Better control concurrency
 Better backup and recovery procedures
© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005
Database Approach

 Data definition language (DDL).

– Permits specification of data types, structures and
any data constraints.
– All specifications are stored in the database.

 Data manipulation language (DML).

– General enquiry facility (query language) of the
data.

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Database Disadvantages
 Higher costs
 Conversion cost
 More difficult recovery
 Complexity
 Size
 Cost of DBMS
 Additional hardware costs
 Cost of conversion
 Performance
 Higher impact of© Pearson
a failure
Education Limited 1995, 2005
Database Users
Application Programmers
End Users
– Naïve
– Sophisticated

© Virtual University
Database Users
Database Administrator (DBA)
A person who has central control over data
and programs that access this data

© Virtual University
Functions of DBA
Schema definition
Granting data access

© Virtual University
Functions of DBA
Routine Maintenance
Backups
Monitoring disk space
Monitoring jobs running

© Virtual University
Data, Database, Data Model and DBMS

End users
Software interact

Application Programs Application

Programmers
develop
“What” to
get
DBMS Database
Administrators
maintain
“How” to
Data
get
Database
Database design Designers

Users
© Virtual University
Components of DBMS Environment

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Components of DBMS Environment
 Hardware
– Can range from a PC to a network of
computers.
 Software
– DBMS, operating system, network software (if
necessary) and also the application programs.
 Data
– Used by the organization and a description
of this data called the schema.

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Components of DBMS Environment

 Procedures
– Instructions and rules that should be applied to
the design and use of the database and DBMS.
 People

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Roles in the Database Environment

 Data Administrator (DA)

 Database Administrator (DBA)
 Database Designers (Logical and Physical)
 Application Programmers
 End Users (naive and sophisticated)

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

History of Database Systems

 First-generation
– Hierarchical and Network

 Second generation
– Relational

 Third generation
– Object-Relational
– Object-Oriented

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Extra
Advantages of DBMSs
 Control of data redundancy
 Data consistency
 More information from the same amount of
data
 Sharing of data
 Improved data integrity
 Improved security
 Enforcement of standards
 Economy of scale

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005

Advantages of DBMSs

 Balance conflicting requirements

 Improved data accessibility and responsiveness
 Increased productivity
 Improved maintenance through data
independence
 Increased concurrency
 Improved backup and recovery services

© Pearson Education Limited 1995, 2005