Information Systems and Databases - Vocabulary Flashcards

A vocabulary-focused review of key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on information systems, databases, and networking.

Information System

An integrated collection of hardware, software, data, people, procedures, and networks that supports decision-making and daily operations.

Hardware

The physical components of a computer system (CPU, memory, storage, I/O devices, networking equipment).

Software

Programs and instructions that tell hardware what to do; categories include system software, application software, and programming software.

System Unit

The main body of a computer that houses the CPU, memory, storage, and other core components.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

The 'brain' of the computer that executes instructions and manages data processing.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

Volatile, temporary storage that holds data and instructions for quick CPU access.

HDD (Hard Disk Drive)

Magnetic storage for long‑term data storage.

SSD (Solid State Drive)

Faster, durable storage without moving parts.

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)

Processor specialized for rendering images and video.

NIC (Network Interface Card)

Hardware that enables a computer to connect to a network.

Operating System (OS)

System software that manages hardware resources and provides services to applications.

DBMS (Database Management System)

Software that defines, creates, queries, updates, and administers databases.

Relational Database

Database model using tables related by keys (primary/foreign) to link data.

Primary Key

A field that uniquely identifies each record in a table.

Foreign Key

A field in one table that references the primary key in another table.

Data

Raw facts and figures that are input to information processing.

Information

Processed data that is meaningful and useful for decision-making.

Big Data

Extremely large, diverse data sets requiring specialized processing; characterized by volume, velocity, and variety.

NoSQL

Non-relational databases designed for unstructured or flexible data and scalability.

Data Warehouse

Central repository for integrated historical data used for analysis and decision-making.

Data Mart

Subset of a data warehouse focused on a specific department or function.

OLAP

Online Analytical Processing; used to analyze data in data warehouses with complex queries.

OLTP

Online Transaction Processing; systems for day-to-day transaction processing.

Data Governance

Formal framework of policies and standards for managing data across an organization.

Master Data

Core data (e.g., customers, products) that span the organization and across processes.

Transactional Data

Data generated by day-to-day operations and transactions.

Data Integrity

Accuracy and consistency of data across systems and over time.

Data Redundancy

Duplication of the same data in multiple locations.

Data Independence

Separation of data from applications so data can be changed without affecting programs.

Data Hierarchy

Bits → Bytes → Fields → Records → Files → Database.

ER Modeling

Entity-Relationship modeling; designing databases with entities, attributes, and relationships.

SQL

Structured Query Language; standard language for querying relational databases.

Data Warehouse Characteristics

Time-variant, integrated, nonvolatile data designed for analysis (OLAP) from multiple sources.

Data Cube

Multidimensional data structure used in OLAP for analyzing data from different perspectives.

ETL

Extract, Transform, Load; process to move and standardize data into a data warehouse.

Master Data Management (MDM)

Process of managing core data to provide a single, consistent source of truth across the organization.

Data Quality

Dimensions like accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and consistency of data.

Cloud Storage

Online storage accessible via the Internet, enabling backup, accessibility, collaboration, and scalability.

Cloud Computing / SaaS

Cloud-based services; SaaS is software delivered over the internet; data/resources are hosted by a provider.

EULA / Activation Keys / DRM

Licensing and anti-piracy measures: End User License Agreements, product activation keys, and Digital Rights Management.

Backup Types

Local backups, cloud backups, full backups, incremental backups, and snapshots for data protection.

UPS / RAID

UPS provides battery backup; RAID is multiple disks for redundancy/performance.

Firewall

Security device/software that monitors and controls incoming/outgoing network traffic.

Encryption (Symmetric/Asymmetric)

Transforming plaintext to ciphertext to protect data; symmetric uses one key, asymmetric uses a key pair.

Digital Signatures

Cryptographic method to verify authenticity and integrity of a message using a private/public key pair.

Digital Certificates

Electronic documents binding a public key to an identity, issued by a Certificate Authority.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Authentication requiring two or more verification factors for access.

HTTP / HTML / URL / DNS / ICANN

Web basics: HTTP for web transfers, HTML for content, URLs for addresses, DNS for translating names to IPs, ICANN coordinates global domain/DNS.

TCP/IP & Ethernet

TCP/IP is the core internet protocol suite; Ethernet is a common LAN protocol for local networks.

IPv4 vs IPv6

IPv4: 32-bit addresses; IPv6: 128-bit addresses to expand address space.

SDN (Software-Defined Networking)

Network control centralized in software to dynamically manage data flows.

WAN / LAN / PAN / MAN

Network size categories: WAN (wide), LAN (local), PAN (personal), MAN (metropolitan area).

Information System

An integrated collection of interconnected components, including hardware, software, data, people, procedures, and networks, working together to collect, process, store, and distribute information to support decision-making, coordination, control, analysis, and visualization in an organization.

Hardware

The tangible, physical components of a computer system that can be seen and touched, such as the Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory (RAM), storage devices (HDDs, SSDs), input/output (I/O) devices (keyboard, monitor), and networking equipment (NICs, routers).

Software

A set of programs, procedures, and routines that provide instructions and data to tell computer hardware how to operate and perform specific tasks. It is broadly categorized into system software (e.g., OS), application software (e.g., word processors), and programming software (e.g., compilers).

System Unit

The main enclosure of a desktop computer, often referred to as the computer case or chassis, which houses the primary internal components such as the Central Processing Unit (CPU), Random Access Memory (RAM), motherboard, power supply, and storage devices.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

Often called the 'brain' of the computer, the CPU is the electronic circuitry that executes instructions of a computer program, performing basic arithmetic, logic, controlling, and input/output (I/O) operations to manage most of the processing tasks.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

A type of volatile, temporary computer memory that stores data and program instructions currently being used by the Central Processing Unit (CPU) for rapid access. Its contents are lost when the computer is turned off.

HDD (Hard Disk Drive)

A traditional data storage device that uses rapidly rotating magnetic platters to store and retrieve digital information. It provides non-volatile, long-term storage, meaning data persists even when the power is off, but it has moving parts, making it slower and more prone to mechanical failure than SSDs.

SSD (Solid State Drive)

A type of non-volatile storage device that uses integrated circuit assemblies as memory to store data persistently. Unlike HDDs, SSDs have no moving mechanical parts, resulting in significantly faster data access, lower power consumption, and greater durability.

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)

A specialized electronic circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images, video, and animations for display. GPUs are highly parallel and efficient at processing large blocks of data simultaneously, making them crucial for gaming, video editing, and complex computational tasks.

NIC (Network Interface Card)

A hardware component, typically a circuit board or chip, that connects a computer to a computer network, allowing it to communicate with other devices on that network. It translates data into a format that can be sent over the network medium (e.g., Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi).

Operating System (OS)

The foundational system software that manages computer hardware and software resources, provides common services for computer programs, and acts as an intermediary between computer hardware and application programs. Examples include Windows, macOS, and Linux.

DBMS (Database Management System)

A software system designed to define, create, query, update, and manage databases efficiently. It provides an interface between users, applications, and the database itself; allowing for data storage, retrieval, and security management.

Relational Database

A type of database that stores and provides access to data points that are related to one another. Data is organized into structured tables (relations), each with rows and columns. Relationships between tables are established using primary and foreign keys, allowing for efficient data retrieval and integrity.

Primary Key

A specific column or set of columns in a relational database table that uniquely identifies each record (row) in that table. Primary keys must contain unique values for each row and cannot contain null values, ensuring data integrity.

Foreign Key

A column or set of columns in one relational database table that refers to the primary key column in another table. It establishes a link between two tables, enforcing referential integrity and allowing for the creation of relationships across different data sets.

Data

Raw, unorganized facts, figures, text, or symbols that lack inherent meaning until they are processed, interpreted, and presented in a meaningful context. It serves as the basic input for information processing.

Information

Data that has been processed, organized, structured, or presented in a given context to make it meaningful, relevant, and useful for human understanding, analysis, and decision-making. Information is derived from raw data.

Big Data

Data sets that are extremely large and complex that traditional data processing application software is inadequate to deal with them. It is typically characterized by the 'Three Vs': Volume (immense amount of data), Velocity (high speed of data generation and processing), and Variety (diverse types of data, structured and unstructured).

NoSQL

A diverse class of non-relational database management systems that provide a mechanism for storage and retrieval of data that is modeled in means other than the tabular relations used in relational databases. NoSQL databases are often used for handling large volumes of unstructured or semi-structured data, offering high scalability, performance, and flexible data models.

Data Warehouse

A large, centralized repository designed to store integrated, historical, and subject-oriented data from various operational systems. It is primarily used for analytical purposes, business intelligence, reporting, and supporting strategic decision-making, rather than for daily transaction processing.

Data Mart

A subset of a data warehouse that is focused on a specific subject area, department, or business function (e.g., sales, finance, marketing) within an organization. It provides users with access to a specific segment of organizational data, tailored to their analytical needs without having to query the entire data warehouse.

OLAP

Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) is a computing method that allows users to easily and selectively extract and view data from different points of view. It is used in data warehousing to analyze large volumes of historical data, supporting complex analytical queries, multidimensional analysis, and business intelligence applications.

OLTP

Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) is a class of software programs capable of supporting transaction-oriented applications typically for data entry and retrieval. OLTP systems manage and facilitate transaction-oriented applications in real-time for day-to-day operational tasks, such as order entry, inventory management, and banking transactions.

Data Governance

An organizational framework comprising a set of policies, processes, roles, and responsibilities that ensures the effective and appropriate use of data across an organization. It defines who can take what actions, upon what data, in what situations, using what methods, and based on what metrics.

Master Data

The consistent and uniform set of core business data (e.g., customer information, product details, supplier data, location data) that is critical to the operation of a business. It provides a single source of truth for key entities and processes, spanning multiple systems and applications across the organization.

Transactional Data

Data generated from daily business activities and events, reflecting changes in the state of the business. This includes records of sales, purchases, withdrawals, and other operational transactions. It is typically time-sensitive and used for real-time operational processes.

Data Integrity

The overall accuracy, completeness, and consistency of data throughout its lifecycle. It ensures that data remains uncorrupted and trustworthy, adhering to business rules and constraints as it is stored, transmitted, and retrieved.

Data Redundancy

The storage of the same data in multiple locations within a database system or across different storage systems. While sometimes used for backup or fault tolerance, it can lead to inconsistencies and wasted storage space if not properly managed.

Data Independence

The ability to modify the schema (structure) of a database at one level without affecting the schema at a higher level, or applications accessing the data. It allows for changes in data storage or organization without necessitating changes in the application programs that use the data.

Data Hierarchy

The systematic organization of data in a database, ranging from the smallest logical unit to the largest: Bits (binary digits, 0 or 1)
→ Bytes (groups of 8 bits, representing a character)
→ Fields (a single piece of data, e.g., name)
→ Records (a collection of related fields)
→ Files (a collection of related records)
→ Database (a collection of related files).

ER Modeling

Entity-Relationship (ER) Modeling is a graphical approach used to design databases, representing a conceptual view of how data is organized. It identifies fundamental entities (real-world objects), their attributes (properties), and the relationships (associations) between these entities.

SQL

Structured Query Language (SQL) is a powerful, standardized programming language used to manage, manipulate, and query data stored in relational database management systems (RDBMS). It is commonly used for data definition (creating schemas), data manipulation (inserting, updating, deleting data), and data retrieval (querying).

Data Warehouse Characteristics

Key characteristics of a data warehouse include:

• Subject-Oriented: Organized around major subjects (e.g., customers, products) rather than daily operations.
• Integrated: Data structured consistently from disparate sources into a common format.
• Time-Variant: Data is stored over time, allowing for historical comparisons and trend analysis.
• Non-Volatile: Data, once entered, is stable and does not change; new data is added incrementally.

Data Cube

A multidimensional array of data used in Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) to represent and store data from a data warehouse in a way that facilitates fast and flexible analysis from various perspectives. It allows users to perform operations like slicing, dicing, and pivoting to explore data along different dimensions (e.g., product, region, time).

ETL

Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) is a three-phase process used to integrate data from various sources into a data warehouse or data mart.

• Extract: Data is retrieved from source systems.
• Transform: Data is cleaned, converted, filtered, and aggregated to meet the business needs and schema of the target data warehouse.
• Load: The transformed data is then loaded into the data warehouse or data mart.

Master Data Management (MDM)

A comprehensive process and set of tools that defines and manages the consistent, unifies, and accurate master data (e.g., customer, product, supplier) across the enterprise. Its goal is to provide a 'single source of truth' to remove duplication and standardize data, ensuring data quality and consistency for critical business operations and analytics.

Data Quality

The degree to which data is fit for its intended uses in operations, decision-making, and planning. Key dimensions of data quality include accuracy (correctness), completeness (all required information present), consistency (uniformity across systems), timeliness (up-to-date), relevance (applicable to task), and validity (conforms to rules).

Cloud Storage

A model of computer data storage in which digital data is stored in logical pools, typically across multiple servers, and often in multiple locations, managed by a third-party hosting company. It provides benefits such as data backup, ubiquitous accessibility from any internet-connected device, enhanced collaboration, and on-demand scalability.

Cloud Computing / SaaS

Cloud computing refers to the on-demand delivery of IT resources and applications over the internet with pay-as-you-go pricing. Software as a Service (SaaS) is a specific model within cloud computing where a third-party provider hosts applications and makes them available to customers over the internet. Users access the software via a web browser, and the provider manages all underlying infrastructure, maintenance, and updates.

EULA / Activation Keys / DRM

• EULA (End User License Agreement): A legal contract between a software producer and the user, defining the terms under which the software may be used.
• Activation Keys: Unique alphanumeric codes required to enable or register a software product, often for licensing verification and anti-piracy.
• DRM (Digital Rights Management): Technologies used by copyright holders to control the access and use of digital content and devices, aiming to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution.

Backup Types

Different methods for creating copies of data to protect against data loss:

• Local Backups: Copies stored on physical media near the source (e.g., external hard drive).
• Cloud Backups: Copies stored remotely on cloud servers accessed over the internet.
• Full Backups: Copies all selected data, regardless of when it was last changed.
• Incremental Backups: Copies only the data that has changed since the last backup (full or incremental).
• Snapshots: A point-in-time copy of data, often used in virtual environments for quick recovery.

UPS / RAID

• UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply): A device that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source or mains power fails, typically through the use of a battery, preventing data loss during power outages.
• RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks): A data storage virtualization technology that combines multiple physical disk drive components into a single logical unit for the purposes of data redundancy, performance improvement, or both. Different RAID levels offer varying balances of fault tolerance and speed.

Firewall

A network security system, either hardware or software-based, that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. It establishes a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks (like the internet) to prevent unauthorized access.

Encryption (Symmetric/Asymmetric)

The process of converting information (plaintext) into a code (ciphertext) to prevent unauthorized access.

• Symmetric Encryption: Uses a single secret key for both encrypting and decrypting data.
• Asymmetric Encryption (Public-Key Cryptography): Uses a pair of keys—a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. Information encrypted with one key can only be decrypted with the other, making it more secure for key exchange and digital signatures.

Digital Signatures

A mathematical scheme for verifying the authenticity and integrity of digital messages or documents. Created by the sender using their private key, it assures the recipient that the message originated from a known sender (authenticity), hasn't been altered in transit (integrity), and the sender cannot later deny having sent it (non-repudiation).

Digital Certificates

An electronic document used to prove the ownership of a public key. It functions like a digital identity card, issued by a trusted third party called a Certificate Authority (CA). Digital certificates verify the identity of individuals, organizations, or websites, enabling secure communication and data exchange over networks like the internet.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

A security authentication method that requires a user to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource, such as an application, online account, or VPN. These factors typically fall into categories: something you know (password), something you have (phone/token), or something you are (biometrics).

HTTP / HTML / URL / DNS / ICANN

Fundamental components of the World Wide Web:

• HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): The underlying protocol used by the World Wide Web for transferring hypertext requests and information between web servers and browsers.
• HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): The standard markup language for creating web pages and web applications, defining the structure and content.
• URL (Uniform Resource Locator): The address of a given unique resource on the World Wide Web, specifying its location on a computer network and a mechanism for retrieving it.
• DNS (Domain Name System): A hierarchical and decentralized naming system for computers, services, or other resources connected to the Internet or a private network. It translates human-readable domain names (e.g., example.com) into numerical IP addresses.
• ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers): A global non-profit organization responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases related to the namespaces and numerical spaces of the Internet, ensuring its stable and secure operation (e.g., managing domain names and IP addresses).