Database Systems Review Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the fundamental concepts of database systems, including data vs information, types of databases, file system evolution, and DBMS functions.

Data

Raw facts that have not yet been processed to reveal meaning to the end user.

Information

The result of processing raw data to reveal the meaning of the data, which requires context.

Knowledge

Implicit familiarity, awareness, and understanding of information.

Data management

A discipline that focuses on the proper generation, storage, and retrieval of data.

Database

A shared, integrated computer structure that stores a collection of end-user data and metadata.

Metadata

Data about data, through which the end-user data is integrated and managed; it describes data characteristics and relationships.

Database management system (DBMS)

A collection of programs that manages the database structure and controls access to the data stored in the database.

Single-user database

A database that supports one user at a time.

Desktop database

A single-user database running on a personal computer.

Multiuser database

A database that supports multiple users at the same time.

Workgroup database

A multiuser database that supports a small number of users or a specific department.

Enterprise database

A multiuser database that supports many users across many departments.

Centralized database

A database that supports data located at a single site.

Distributed database

A database that supports data distributed across different sites.

Cloud database

A database created and maintained using cloud data services.

General-purpose database

A database containing a wide variety of data used in multiple disciplines.

Discipline-specific database

A database containing data focused on specific subject areas.

Operational database

A database designed to support a company's day-to-day operations.

Analytical database

A database storing historical data and business metrics used exclusively for tactical or strategic decision making.

Data warehouse

A component of an analytical database that stores data in a format optimized for decision support.

Online analytical processing (OLAP)

A set of tools for retrieving, processing, and modeling data from the data warehouse.

Business intelligence

A comprehensive approach to capture and process business data to generate information that supports decision making.

Unstructured data

Data that exists in its original (raw) state.

Structured data

The result of formatting unstructured data to facilitate storage and use.

Semistructured data

Data that has already been processed to some extent.

Extensible Markup Language (XML)

A language used to represent data elements in textual format.

NoSQL (Not only SQL)

A new generation of DBMS not based on the traditional relational database model, designed for high volume, variety, and velocity.

Database design

Activities focusing on the design of the database structure used to store and manage end-user data.

Field

A character or group of characters (alphabetic or numeric) that has a specific meaning; used to define and store data.

Record

A logically connected set of one or more fields that describes a person, place, or thing.

File

A collection of related records.

Structural dependence

A condition where access to a file is dependent on its own structure.

Structural independence

The ability to change a file structure without affecting the application’s ability to access the data.

Data dependence

A condition where all data access programs are subject to change when data storage characteristics change.

Data independence

A condition where data storage characteristics are changed without affecting the program’s ability to access the data.

Logical data format

The way humans view the data.

Physical data format

The way the computer must work with the data.

Data redundancy

The unnecessary storage of the same data at different places.

Islands of information

A term used for scattered data locations.

Data anomaly

A problem that develops when not all required changes in redundant data are made successfully.

Database system

An organization of five components (hardware, software, people, procedures, and data) that define and regulate data management.

Data dictionary management

The DBMS function of storing definitions of data elements and their relationships.

Performance tuning

Activities performed by the DBMS to ensure efficient performance in data storage and retrieval.

Query language

A non-procedural language that lets the user specify what must be done without specifying how.

Structured Query Language (SQL)

The de facto query language and data access standard supported by the majority of DBMS vendors.

Database Administrator

A professional who manages and maintains the DBMS and databases.

Data Scientist

A professional who analyzes large amounts of varied data to generate insights, relationships, and predictable behaviors.