A database is a collection of electronic data or records that can be processed to obtain useful information. The data can be controlled, accessed, organized, managed, and modified to perform various data processing operations.
In a database, data is usually stored in the form of tables (rows and columns) that create data requesting and data processing efficiency.
In order to manage or organize the data in the database and resolve its security issues, organizations need a technology solution to manage, maintain, secure and process the data stored in the database.
For solving this problem a software solution (database management system) comes into the market.
What is DBMS (Database Management System)?
DBMS is software for managing and creating databases. DBMS makes it possible for users to read, update, create, protect and delete data in the database. DBMS provides a facility to end users to handle the database via a graphical user interface (GUI) as well as provide the facility to access the databases via apps.
Responsibilities of DBMS:
The administrative responsibilities of DBMS are as follows.
- Disaster recovery
- Change Management
- Security management
- Managing data integrity
- Performance monitoring
- Multi-user access Control.
- Data storage management.
- Improved data sharing system.
- Data exchange and presentation.
- Create a logical database structure.
- Data backup and recovery management.
- The process applies to databases such as editing and accessing data.
Components of DBMS:
DBMS is a sophisticated piece of database management system software consisting of a number of integrated components that provide an organized and consistent environment for editing, creating and accessing data in a database.
These components are as follows:
- Software:
DBMS is software that provides a graphical user interface for managing and communicating databases.
- Data:
DBMS contains metadata as a resource for accessing operational data, database records and performing necessary functionality. Data may include files such as administrative information, index files, and data dictionaries that are used to represent ownership, structure, data flow, and relationships with other objects or records.
- Database languages:
Database languages are used to edit, access, retrieve, and store data items from a database. These languages are also used for user access control, defining database schemes and other related database management operations.
- DBMS uses four types of database languages.
- Data Control Language (DCL)
- Data Definition Language (DDL)
- Data Access Language (DAL)
- Data Manipulation Language (DML)
- Engine optimization:
DBMS also provides an optimization engine, which is used to analyze database access language requests and execute them into actionable commands for modifying and accessing data.
- Lock Manager:
Another important component of DBMS is the lock manager, which ensures that multiple users are not trying to edit the same data at the same time.
- Log Manager:
Log is basically the history / record of the actions that DBMS performed.
The Log Manager component is used to ensure that the logs are managed accurately and efficiently.
Database management system uses the log manager during shutdown and startup times to ensure the data integrity.
- Data utility:
DBMS provides a set of utilities for controlling and managing database activities.
The database utility manages statistics, retrieves data, restructures, copy and backs up data, loads data, repairs databases, uploads data, and integrity checks.
- Database Engine:
The database engine is a very useful component of DBMS which is used to retrieve and store data in the database.
The database engine is also accessible via api’s That allows the apps, websites and users to read, write, create and delete data in the database.
- Reporting:
Reporting is a very powerful component of DBMS that facilitates the extraction of useful information from DBMS files and displays it in an organized manner. The information can be used for decision making, business intelligence and other further analysis.
Benefits of using Database Management System (DBMS):
The benefits of using the database management system as follows:
- Improved data access.
- Enhancing data security.
- Data access and auditing.
- Improved data integration.
- Minimum data inconsistency.
- Improved data sharing system.
- Increase productivity of end users.
- Help make decisions through reports.
- Uniform management and administration.
- Reduce data entry, retrieval and storage costs.
- Provide better data integration and freedom for application programs.
Disadvantages of using DBMS:
The main disadvantage of using DBMS is the increase in the cost of hardware and software. Running database management system software requires high specification systems or servers and requires technical staff who can manage the software.
Difference between DBMS and RDBMS:
RDBMS (Relational Database Management System) is a DBMS that specifically designed for relational databases.
The key differences between DBMS and RDBMS are as follows:
DBMS:
- In DBMS stores the data in the form of files.
- DBMS supports single user.
- DBMS doesn’t support the client side architecture.
RDBMS:
- DBMS doesn’t support the client side architecture.
- In RDBMS stores the data in the form of tables.
- RDBMS supports the multiple users.
- RDBMS supports the client side architecture.
Bottom Line:
DBMS enables end users to read, create, delete and update data in the database. DBMS primarily serves as an interface between end users and database, ensuring that data is consistently organized and easily accessible.
