Database Management Systems

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to Database Management Systems, including definitions and descriptions to aid in understanding the subject.

Database Management System (DBMS)

A collection of interrelated data and a set of programs to access that data.

Entity-Relationship (ER) Model

A high-level conceptual data model for designing database applications by representing entities, attributes, and relationships.

Data Independence

The capacity to change the schema at one level of a database system without having to change the schema at the next higher level.

Structured Data

Data that is organized in a highly defined manner, typically in rows and columns, as in relational databases.

Unstructured Data

Data which is not organized in a predefined manner and does not fit well into a conventional database structure.

Semi-Structured Data

Data that does not reside in a relational database but has some organizational properties that make it easier to analyze.

Normalization

The process of structuring a relational database to reduce data redundancy and improve data integrity.

Weak Entity

An entity that does not have a primary key and depends on a strong entity for its existence.

Strong Entity

An entity that has a primary key and does not depend on any other entity for its existence.

Cardinality

The number of instances of one entity that can be associated with instances of another entity.

Atomicity Property

Ensures that either all the database operations in a transaction are executed or none are.

Isolation Property

Ensures that each transaction appears to execute in isolation from other transactions.

Data Abstraction

The characteristic that allows program-data independence and program operation independence.

Concurrency Control

Mechanisms used by DBMS to ensure multiple users can access data in a controlled manner.

Meta Data

Data that describes other data, stored in the DBMS catalog to define the structure of the primary database.

Three-Schema Architecture

A framework for data management that separates the external view, conceptual schema, and internal schema.

Schema Evolution

The process of changing a schema to meet the changing requirements of an application.

Participation Constraints

Rules that specify whether the existence of an entity depends on being related to another entity.