Database Concepts and Definitions

Flashcards covering basic database concepts, data types, and the importance of metadata.

What is a database?

An organized collection of logically related data.

What is structured data?

Facts concerning objects and events that are recorded and stored in a tabular form, such as numeric, character, and date types. Examples include customer names, addresses, and telephone numbers.

What is unstructured data (multimedia data)?

Includes documents, e-mails, tweets, Facebook posts, GPS information, maps, photographic images, sound, and video segments.

How do big data technologies handle heterogeneous data?

Big data technologies provide capabilities to handle highly heterogeneous data, encompassing both structured and unstructured types.

Define data vs. information.

Data are raw facts, while information is data processed to increase the user's knowledge.

How is data converted into information?

By summarizing or processing it for human interpretation, such as presenting student enrollment data graphically, or adding context to it.

Why do organizations use internally generated numbers instead of Social Security numbers for identification?

Due to increased awareness of data security.

What are some examples of data formats that can be stored in modern databases?

Data can be preprocessed and stored in summarized forms for decision support.

Define metadata.

Data that describe the properties or characteristics of end-user data and the context of that data.

What is the purpose of metadata?

Helps database designers and users understand what data exist, what the data mean, and how to distinguish between similar data items.

Why is managing metadata crucial?

It provides clear meaning to data, preventing confusion, misinterpretation, or errors.

Where is metadata often stored?

Metadata are often stored as part of the database and can be retrieved using the same methods as data.

Give an example of contextual metadata.

The source of the data, where the data are stored, ownership (or stewardship), and usage.