History and Concepts of Database Management Systems

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering the history, core concepts, database types, ACID properties, and file system anomalies from the DBMS lecture.

Integrated Data Store (IDS)

First general-purpose DBMS created by Charles William Bachman III at General Electric; introduced the Network Data Model and was standardized by CODASYL.

Information Management System (IMS)

A database management system developed by IBM that used the Hierarchical Data Model.

Relational Data Model

A database model proposed by Edgar F. Codd that became the foundation of modern database systems.

CODASYL

Conference on Data Systems Languages; standardized the Integrated Data Store (IDS).

Data

Raw facts that have not yet been processed.

Information

Processed data that has meaning.

Knowledge

The understanding and application 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.

End-user data

Raw facts of interest to the end-user, representing the actual content created or gathered by the user.

Metadata

Data about data, through which end-user data are integrated and managed; describes contextual details of content.

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, usually running on a personal device; also called a Desktop Database.

Multi user database

A database that supports multiple users at the same time (fewer than 50 users).

Centralized database

A database that supports data located at a single site.

Decentralised database

A database where every node makes its own decision, such as Bitcoin.

Distributed database

A database that supports data distributed across different locations but works as one system.

Operational Database

A database used for day-to-day business operations; also known as a Transactional Database or Production Database.

Data Warehouse

A database used for storing data for analysis, generating information, and decision-making.

Unstructured data

Data in their raw state.

Structured data

A fully structured data resulting from formatting unstructured data.

Semistructured data

Structured data that isn't fully structured yet.

Database design

The process of creating the structure of a database so that it can properly store and manage data according to user requirements.

Manual File System

Traditional paper-based storage system using filing cabinets, paper records, and folder systems.

Computerized File System

A computer-based storage and retrieval system.

Field

A character or group of characters that has a specific meaning.

Record

A collection of related fields that describe a person, thing, or place.

File

A collection of related records.

Atomicity

An ACID property requiring 'All or Nothing', meaning every operation in a transaction must succeed or revert to zero.

Consistency

An ACID property requiring that database rules remain valid before and after a transaction, reverting to a previous state if invalid data causes a failure.

Isolation

An ACID property ensuring that multiple transactions do not interfere with each other.

Durability

An ACID property ensuring that completed transactions remain saved even after system crashes.

Structural Dependence

Occurs when access to data depends on the file's structure, requiring programs to be modified if the file structure changes.

Structural Independence

Exists when changes can be made to the file structure without affecting application programs.

Data Dependence

Occurs when application programs must be changed whenever data storage characteristics change.

Data Independence

Occurs when data storage characteristics can change without affecting application programs.

Logical Data Format

Describes data structure and meaning in a way that is easy for people and programs to understand.

Physical Data Format

Describes how data is actually stored, saved, and read by a specific computer or software system.

Data Redundancy

Occurs when the same data is unnecessarily stored in multiple locations.

Data Integrity

The condition in which all of the data in the database are consistent with the real-world events and conditions.

Insertion Anomaly

A data anomaly that occurs when data cannot be inserted because other required information is missing.

Update Anomaly

A data anomaly that occurs when the same data appears in multiple places and all copies must be updated.

Deletion Anomaly

A data anomaly that occurs when deleting one record accidentally removes important information.