Untitled Flashcards Set

Database

A collection of related data that represents some aspect of the real world.

DBMS (Database Management System)

A computerized system that enables users to create and maintain a database, facilitating processes such as defining, constructing, manipulating, and sharing databases.

Schema

The description of a database's structure, specifying the data types, relationships, and constraints.

Entity-Relationship (ER) Model

A high-level conceptual data model used to describe the structure of a database, represented in diagrams that show entities, attributes, and relationships.

Data Normalization

The process of organizing data in a database to minimize redundancy and improve data integrity.

NoSQL Systems

New types of database systems designed to handle large volumes of unstructured data, often used for big data applications.

Transaction

An executable program that includes one or more database accesses, ensuring that operations are processed reliably.

Entity Type

A collection of similar entities in a database, defined by their attributes.

Attribute

A property or characteristic of an entity, describing its features.

Key Attribute

An attribute used to uniquely identify an entity within an entity type.

Cardinality Ratio

The maximum number of instances of one entity that can be associated with instances of another entity in a relationship.

Concurrency Control

The management of simultaneous operations on a database to ensure the integrity of data.

Referential Integrity Constraint

A relational database constraint that requires relationships between tables to be valid, ensuring that foreign keys match primary keys.

Data Manipulation Language (DML)

A language for manipulating data in a database, including operations like retrieval, insertion, and deletion.

Data Definition Language (DDL)

A language for defining the database schema, including its structure.

Anomaly

A flaw or inconsistency in the database that can arise from poor design or redundant data storage.

Physical Design

The phase during which the internal storage structures and file organizations of a database are specified.

Logical Design

The phase in database design where the conceptual schema is transformed into a logical data model suitable for implementation.

Database Catalog

A collection of metadata that describes the database structure, including schemas, constraints, and access paths.

Shared Database

A database designed to be accessed by multiple users simultaneously.

Application Program Interface (API)

A set of protocols for building and interacting with software applications, facilitating database access.