Database Vocabulary

Flashcards with vocabulary terms and definitions from database lecture notes.

Data

Facts or details from which information is derived.

Information

Data that is processed, organized, structured, or presented in a given context to make it useful.

Information System

An organized system for the collection, organization, storage, and communication of information.

Components of Information Systems

Computer hardware, software, telecommunications, databases, human resources, and procedures.

Data

Unprocessed facts or figures.

Information

Processed data.

Database

A group of related files.

Data

Facts or figures with no added interpretation or analysis.

Database

Collection of interrelated data and a collection of programs to access that data.

Knowledge

Combination of information, experience, and insight that may benefit an organization.

General Purpose DBMS

A computer software application that interacts with end-users, other applications, and the database itself, to capture and analyze data.

Database Transaction

Collection of operations that form a single logical unit of work.

Atomicity

Ensures that all operations in the unit are executed as a single atomic operation; all are committed successfully or none are completed at all.

Data Control Language (DCL)

Validation and verification.

Validation

Automatic computer checks to ensure data is sensible.

Verification

Double checking.

Data Manipulation Language (DML)

Used to express database queries and updates.

Data Definition Language (DDL)

Deals with descriptions of the database schema.

Transaction Control Language (TCL)

Commands used to manage transactions within the database.

Database User

Anyone that avails benefits from using a database.

Database Administrator

Defines database schema, takes charge of controlling various levels of the database, and has full control of the DBMS.

Parametric Users

Mostly use the database to fill in and retrieve information.

System Analyst

Analyzes requirements of naive users, feasibility aspects, and is responsible to keep checks on data integrity.

Application Programmer

Computer professionals who develop application programs that interact using DML manipulation queries.

Database Designers

Design and create the structure of the database.

Database

Organized collection of data.

Database

Collection of interrelated data and a collection of programs to access that data.

Table

Named relation database; data is organized by rows and columns.

Super Key

A set of one or more attributes that, when taken collectively, allows us to identify uniquely a tuple in the relation.

Primary Key

A super key which cannot have any columns removed from it without losing the unique identification property.

Secondary Key

Multiple choices for primary keys are called candidate keys; one is not selected for PK, and is a secondary key.

Foreign Key

One or more attributes which enable a link between data in two or more tables.

Composite Key

Combination of two or more columns.

Normalization

Process of restructuring a relational database in order to reduce data redundancy and improve data integrity.

Constraints

Rules that define data type formats in a table.

ACID Properties

Maintains data reliability.

Log-based Recovery

Sequence of records maintaining a log of actions performed by a transaction stored on stable storage.

Non-volatile Memory

Stable storage media.

Metadata

Data about the database.

Active State

The initial state a transaction stays in while executing.

Partially Committed State

When a transaction executes its final operation statement.

Failed/Aborted State

Any checks made by the database fail/normal execution can no longer proceed.

Committed State

Operations fully executed and effects permanently saved.

Checkpoints

Save points.

Data Matching

Compares two sets of collected data.

Data Mining

Use of patterns to identify trends in large databases.

Data Consistency

Ensures data contained by a certain attribute is the same wherever the attribute is present in the database.

Primary Key

Uniquely identifies each tuple in a table.

Database Transaction

A series of operations that perform a logical unit of work.

Data Validation

Can be used to check that the input makes sense.

Locks

Guarantees data is reliable and accurate, allowing appropriate concurrent use of the database.

Candidate Key

A second key; one of multiple choices for a unique primary key in a table.

Data Concurrency

Prevent conflicting updates. Can be achieved using locks, through transaction isolation and serializability.

Data Definition Language (DDL)

Describes the structure of the database schema.

Data Modeling

Creating a visual representation of data and its relationships; a blueprint for database design and management.