Computer Science 102: Fundamentals of Information Technology Ch 3. Database Systems Overview

Data

basic values or facts

Analog

continuous

Digital

Discrete and broken up

database

organized collection of data

database management system

specialized software to input, store, retrieve and manage all the data

Computers represent data in a finite manner. What does this mean?

1. Computers cannot store analog data.

2. There is a limit to how much data they can represent.

3. Computers are not as intelligent as the human brain.

4. There are only so many different ways to represent something.

There is a limit to how much data they can represent.

What is the difference between data and information?

1. Data refer to basic values or facts, while information consists of organized data used to answer questions or solve problems.

2. Data are digital, while information is analog.

3. Computers store data, while the human brain stores information.

4. They pretty much mean the same thing.

Data refer to basic values or facts, while information consists of organized data used to answer questions or solve problems.

What is the difference between analog and digital data?

1. Analog data refer to data from before the invention of computers.

2. There is no real difference.

3. Analog data cannot be stored, while digital data are stored using computers.

4. Analog data are continuous, while digital data are discrete.

Analog data are continuous, while digital data are discrete.

What are data?

1. Tables used by computers

2. Text and numbers

3. Information

4. Basic facts or values

Basic facts or values

A ________ is an organized collection of data.

1. Header Row

2. Record field

3. Database

4. Datasystem

Database

Databases

containers for data

Database Management Systems (DBMS)

system that contains databases

Text Database

when data is organized in a text file in rows and columns, it can be used to store, organize, protect, and retrieve data

Desktop Database Programs

another type of a database that’s more complex than a text database, but intended for a singular user

Desktop Database Programs

allow users to enter data, store it, protect it, and retrieve it when needed

Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS)

allow multiple users to work with the data at the same time, creating advanced security for access to the data

Schema

a set of tables makes up a

NoSQL and Object-Oriented Databases

build bookshelves of elements and allow access per bookshelf

NoSQL

specifically attempts to simplify bookshelves by storing data in a denormalized way

Denormalized

storing it in large chunks

Normalization

a database business process to break up data into the smallest possible parts

Transactional or Operational

when databases store everyday data with fast updates

Database Warehouses

store many versions of the same data

What is a database?

1. A computer mechanism for storing and retrieving data

2. A base layer for storing items

3. A type of a disk

4. A part of a computer closest to data

Which database type is the simplest type and is organized into rows and columns in a text file?

1. line entry

2. shell database

3. text database

4. command line

text database

What does RDBMS stand for?

1. Research Development BMS

2. Real Database Messaging System

3. Rapid Development Bit Map Systems

4. Relational Database Management System

Relational Database Management System

What is the diagram symbol for a database?

1. a cloud

2. a line

3. a circle

4. a cylinder

a cylinder

In the data storage sense, what does 'denormalized' mean?

1. Data containing unusual information

2. Standardizing data before it's stored

3. Storing data in large chunks

4. Storing data in small chunks

Storing data in large chunks

Data

basic facts or values

Database

organized collection of data

Array

a list of values

Field

corresponds to a column in the table and represents a single value

Record

a collection of related attributes that make up a single database entry

Information

helps us answer questions

What is the difference between data and information?

1. Data consists of records while information consists of arrays.

2. Computers can only store data while the human brain stores information.

3. Data is used to make decisions while information is strictly records.

4. Data are digital and can include audio while information is analog and text only.

5. Data are basic values or facts, while information consists of organized data used to answer question or solve problems.

Data are basic values or facts, while information consists of organized data used to answer question or solve problems.

How would a university that needs to have records of student grades store this information ?

1. With a Javascript program

2. With an application macro

3. With a generic macro

4. With a database table

5. With a relational array

With a database table

What is data?

1. Binary digits

2. Information

3. Basic facts or values

4. Text and numbers

5. Tables used by computers

Basic facts or values

Each column in a database table is also called _____?

1. a field

2. a file

3. a relation

4. an array

5. a record

a field

How would a grocery chain manage a database containing information on thousands of customers?

1. By storing it on an email server

2. With a DBMS

3. With data arrays

4. With an informational database

5. With an HTML based spreadsheet

With a DBMS

Relational database

tables that are linked together in some meaningful way

Product database

consists of a table; every product is a record

Database relationships

meaningful patterns in the data are possible

Are certain products often bought together?

How to market products as a bundle

• identify customers that buy similar products as part of different orders instead of single orders

Relational Database

• examine patterns based on the relationship between the various tables

Database design

• each table has a unique name

• each table contains multiple rows

• each row in a table is unique

• every table has a key to uniquely identify the rows

• each column in a table has a unique attribute name

Relationships

• link tables together

• “table associations”

Keys

• one or more fields that uniquely identify a record in a database table

• assist in maintaining data consistency

• create associations between tables

Primary Key

• a minimal set of fields whose values uniquely identify a record in a table

• one primary key per table

• may consist of multiple attributes

Key Examples

• Book ISBN

• Employee ID

• Customers, products & orders

Foreign Key

a field whose values are the same as the primary key of another table

Cardinality

• types of relationships based on how many records in one table are related to how many records in the other table

• one-to-one (1:1)

• one-to-many (1:m)

• many-to-one (m:1)

• many-to-many (m:m)

_____ is a field in a database table (or a combination of fields) that has a unique value.

1. An identifier

2. A secondary key

3. A primary key

4. An alternate key

5. A foreign key

A primary key

_____ refers to how many records in a table are related to the number of records in another table.

1. Keying

2. Hierarchy

3. Association

4. Cardinality

5. Linking

Cardinality

A relationship between two or more tables is also known as:

1. An attribute

2. A key

3. A database model

4. An association

5. A link

An association

A field in a database table whose values are the same as the primary key of another table is called:

1. A foreign key

2. An alternate key

3. A primary key

4. A candidate key

5. A secondary key

A foreign key

A database of auto parts has two tables. The first table includes all the different parts. The second table includes all the different types of vehicles. Some parts can be used in more than one vehicle, while all vehicles consist of more than one part. This describes which type of table association?

1. All-to-many

2. Many-to-many

3. Many-to-one

4. One-to-many

5. Many-to-all

Many-to-many

What would be the benefits to a chain of grocery stores from using a database?

1. All of these are correct.

2. Each stores data could be available to other stores.

3. Multiple users could access store data at the same time.

4. Store inventory data would be available and up to the minute.

5. Top management can easily track each stores sales.

All of these are correct.

Which of the following does not represent a typical scenario with respect to the use of a database by a hospital ?

1. Printing out all the pages of a database to create a permanent record of patients

2. Searching through the database to find a patients records

3. All of the answers are correct.

4. Updating the database to reflect a patients treatment

5. A Doctor accessing the database from home

Printing out all the pages of a database to create a permanent record of patients

Which of the following about database management is false?

1. Making a database searchable makes it more useful.

2. Many databases are updated regularly.

3. Different people in an organization may have access to different parts of a database.

4. Databases can only be accessed by the database manager.

5. A library catalog is an example of a database.

Databases can only be accessed by the database manager.

What is the primary strategic goal of database management for an organization?

1. To store all relevant data in a database

2. To support effective problem solving and decision making

3. To convert all paper-based data to digital data in a computer-based database

4. To make all important data available to everyone in the organization

To support effective problem solving and decision making

Which of the following is an example of a database?

1. Hospital records

2. Customer contact information

3. All of the answers are examples of databases.

4. Library catalog

5. Store sales transactions

All of the answers are examples of databases.

database management system (DBMS)

software tool to organize data in a database

file system

challenges

• lost a file

• difficulty finding file

• different physical locations

computer service

provides a network service

What does the acronym DBMS stand for?

1. Database Management Science

2. Data-driven Business Management System

3. Database Manipulation System

4. Database Management Service

5. Database Management System

Database Management System

The database administrator has already set permissions for several people to use the system. Three of the users need to be able to use the database at the same time. What function does the administrator need to set?

1. Security

2. Backup and recovery

3. User permissions

4. Integrity

5. Concurrency

Concurrency

Where is a multi-user database typically located?

1. A USB flash drive that is passed around the office

2. A laptop computer which is used by multiple users

3. The desktop computer of the database administrator

4. A central computer server

5. A desktop computer of one of the employees

A central computer server

Which of the following is NOT a potential advantage of a database management system (DBMS)?

1. Reduces multiple versions of the same data

2. Increases security and reliability due to a limited number of managers

3. Provides automated methods to create, store and retrieve data

4. Allows multiple users to access the same data simultaneously

5. Reduces data storage needs

Reduces data storage needs

What are the three fundamental elements of a database management system?

1. Physical database, database engine and database schema

2. Texts, numbers and multimedia

3. Data entry, data storage and data analysis

4. Records, fields and tables

5. Database, file system and search engine

Physical database, database engine and database schema

Flat file

single table with a large number of records and fields

Relational DBMS

the most widely used type of DBMS

Relationships

a field that uniquely identifies each record

Flat file

like a single, very large table

Which of the following is an advantage of a hierarchical data model?

Complex data relationships can be modeled

Ability to store multimedia data types

Conceptual simplicity

Easy to understand database tables