INTRODUCTION TO DBMS

What is a Database Management System?

Database is an organized collection of related data.

Database Management System (DBMS) is a software application that is used to create, access,
maintain, and manage databases.

What is the need of DBMS?

Database systems are basically developed for large amount of data. When dealing with huge
amount of data, there are two things that require optimization: Storage of data and retrieval of
data.

Storage: According to the principles of database systems, the data is stored in such a way that it
acquires lot less space as the redundant data (duplicate data) has been removed before storage.
Let’s take a layman example to understand this:
In a banking system, suppose a customer is having two accounts, one is saving account and
another is salary account. Let’s say bank stores saving account data at one place (these places are
called tables we will learn them later) and salary account data at another place, in that case if the
customer information such as customer name, address etc. are stored at both places then this is
just a wastage of storage (redundancy/ duplication of data), to organize the data in a better way
the information should be stored at one place and both the accounts should be linked to that
information somehow. The same thing we achieve in DBMS.

Fast Retrieval of data: Along with storing the data in an optimized and systematic manner, it is
also important that we retrieve the data quickly when needed. Database systems ensure that the
data is retrieved as quickly as possible.

Database Management System Examples

Few examples of database are:

 Oracle – Oracle is a Relational Database Management System. It can be stored on-site or

in the cloud. It uses enterprise-scale technology to offer a wide range of features to the
users.
 MySQL – Used by platforms like Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook, MySQL is a
Relational Database Management System. It is often integrated with open-source Content
Management Systems (CMS).
 SQL Server – SQL Server is a Relational Database Management System developed by
Microsoft. It was based on SQL, a query language that helps users in data query and
database management.
History of DBMS

Here, are the important landmarks from the history:

 1960 – Charles Bachman designed first DBMS system

 1970 – Codd introduced IBM’S Information Management System (IMS)
 1976- Peter Chen coined and defined the Entity-relationship model also know as the ER
model
 1980 – Relational Model becomes a widely accepted database component
 1985- Object-oriented DBMS develops.
 1990s- Incorporation of object-orientation in relational DBMS.
 1991- Microsoft ships MS access, a personal DBMS and that displaces all other personal
DBMS products.
 1995: First Internet database applications
 1997: XML applied to database processing. Many vendors begin to integrate XML into
DBMS products.

 Post-2000: NoSQL It refers to “not only SQL” databases that use other query languages
to store and retrieve data.

Note: This article clearly explains the historical evolution of DBMS

https://medium.com/@rpolding/databases-evolution-and-change-29b8abe9df3e
Types of DBMS

The main Four Types of Database Management System are:

 Hierarchical database
 Network database
 Relational database
 Object-Oriented database

Hierarchical DBMS

In a Hierarchical database, model data is organized in a tree-like structure. Data is Stored

Hierarchically (top down or bottom up) format. Data is represented using a parent-child
relationship. In Hierarchical DBMS parent may have many children, but children have only one
parent.
Network Model

The network database model allows each child to have multiple parents. It helps you to address
the need to model more complex relationships like as the orders/parts many-to-many relationship.
In this model, entities are organized in a graph which can be accessed through several paths.

The main difference between the hierarchical model and the network model is that the network
model allows each record to have more than one parent and child record. In fig. 2, the “Client”,
“Supervisor” and other boxes represent what in database terminology are called entities. The
network model allows entities to have relationships, just like in real life. In the example, an order
involves a customer, supervisor and worker — as it would if a client walked into a store and
bought a product.

Relational Model

The relational model describes the data in a database as being stored in tables, each containing
records with fields. An example could be a customer table, which could include the following
fields:

Customer:

 customer id,
 first name,
 last name,
 street address,
  city,
 county,
 postcode,
 mobile

Relational DBMS is the most widely used DBMS model because it is one of the easiest. This
model is based on normalizing data in the rows and columns of the tables.

These tables can have relationships in a relational database, and different types of relationships
exist. They include, One-to-One, One-to-Many, Many-to-Many.

These allow the designer to show how one table relates to another. For example, a customer will
probably buy many products. Therefore one customer can be associated with many products (this
is a one-to-many relationship).

Most relational databases use a standard method for accessing the data: the Structured Query
Language (SQL).

The model implements a set of constraints and these ensure that the database functions as
intended.
Object-Oriented Model

In Object-oriented Model data is stored in the form of objects. The structure which is called
classes which display data within it.

It is one of the components of DBMS that defines a database as a collection of objects which
stores both data members values and operations.

Object databases are different from relational databases which are table-oriented.
Traditional File-based Approach

The term 'file-based approach' refers to the situation where data is stored in one or more separate
computer files defined and managed by different application programs. Typically, for example,
the details of customers may be stored in one file, orders in another, etc. Computer programs
access the stored files to perform the various tasks required by the business. Each program, or
sometimes a related set of programs, is called a computer application. For example, all of the
programs associated with processing customers' orders are referred to as the order processing
application. The file-based approach might have application programs that deal with purchase
orders, invoices, sales and marketing, suppliers, customers, employees, and so on.

The following diagram shows how different applications will each have their own copy of
the files they need in order to carry out the activities for which they are responsible:
Drawbacks of File system

 Data redundancy: Data redundancy refers to the duplication of data, lets say we are
managing the data of a college where a student is enrolled for two courses, the same
student details in such case will be stored twice, which will take more storage than
needed. Data redundancy often leads to higher storage costs and poor access time.
 Data inconsistency: Data redundancy leads to data inconsistency, lets take the same
example that we have taken above, a student is enrolled for two courses and we have
student address stored twice, now lets say student requests to change his address, if the
address is changed at one place and not on all the records then this can lead to data
inconsistency.
 Data Isolation: Because data are scattered in various files, and files may be in different
formats, writing new application programs to retrieve the appropriate data is difficult.
 Dependency on application programs: Changing files would lead to change in
application programs.
 Atomicity issues: Atomicity of a transaction refers to “All or nothing”, which means
either all the operations in a transaction executes or none.

For example: Lets say Steve transfers Ksh 1000 to Sharon’s account. This transaction
consists multiple operations such as debit Ksh 1000 from Steve’s account, credit Ksh
1000 to Sharon’s account. Like any other device, a computer system can fail lets say it
fails after first operation then in that case Steve’s account would have been debited by
Ksh 1000 but the amount was not credited to Sharon’s account, in such case the rollback
of operation should occur to maintain the atomicity of transaction. It is difficult to
achieve atomicity in file processing systems.

 Data Security: Data should be secured from unauthorised access, for example a student
in a college should not be able to see the payroll details of the teachers, such kind of
security constraints are difficult to apply in file processing systems.
Advantage of DBMS over File System

There are several advantages of Database management system over file system. Few of them are
as follows:

 No redundant data: Redundancy removed by data normalization. No data duplication

saves storage and improves access time.
 Data Consistency and Integrity: As we discussed earlier the root cause of data
inconsistency is data redundancy, since data normalization takes care of the data
redundancy, data inconsistency also been taken care of as part of it
 Data Security: It is easier to apply access constraints in database systems so that only
authorized user is able to access the data. Each user has a different set of access thus data
is secured from the issues such as identity theft, data leaks and misuse of data.
 Privacy: Limited access means privacy of data.
 Easy access to data – Database systems manages data in such a way so that the data is
easily accessible with fast response times.
 Easy recovery: Since database systems keeps the backup of data, it is easier to do a full
recovery of data in case of a failure.
 Flexible: Database systems are more flexible than file processing systems.

Disadvantages of DBMS:

 Cost: DBMS implementation cost is high compared to the file system

 Complexity: Database systems are complex to understand
 Performance: Database systems are generic, making them suitable for various
applications. However this feature affect their performance for some applications
Traditional Approach Vs Database Approach

Basis File System DBMS

The file system is software that

DBMS is software for
Structure manages and organizes the files in a
managing the database.
storage medium within a computer.

Redundant data can be present in a In DBMS there is no redundant

Data Redundancy
file system. data.

It provides backup and

It doesn’t provide backup and
Backup and Recovery recovery of data even if it is
recovery of data if it is lost.
lost.

There is no efficient query Efficient query processing is

Query processing
processing in the file system. there in DBMS.

There is more data consistency

There is less data consistency in the
Consistency because of the process of
file system.
normalization.

It has more complexity in

It is less complex as compared to
Complexity handling as compared to the
DBMS.
file system.

DBMS has more security

File systems provide less security in
Security Constraints mechanisms as compared to
comparison to DBMS.
file systems.

It has a comparatively higher

Cost It is less expensive than DBMS.
cost than a file system.

In DBMS data independence

Data Independence There is no data independence.
exists.

Only one user can access data at a Multiple users can access data
User Access
time. at a time.
Components of DBMS
Hardware, Software, Data, Database Access Language, Procedures and Users all together form
the components of a DBMS.

 Hardware - The hardware is the actual computer system used for keeping and accessing
the database. The conventional DBMS hardware consists of secondary storage devices
such as hard disks. Databases run on the range of machines from micro computers to
mainframes.

 Software - Software is the actual DBMS between the physical database and the users of
the system. All the requests from the user for accessing the database are handled by
DBMS.

 Data - Data is the information that is managed by DBMS. The main task of DBMS is to
process the data. Databases are used to store the data, retrieved, and updated to and from
the databases.

 Database Access Language – The language that is used to write commands on the
DBMS to access, utilize, manage, update and delete data, is called the Database Access
Language. Commands are written using the Database Access Language and submitted to
the DBMS so they can be executed by the DBMS.

 Procedures – All the instructions that are given to access the DBMS, fall under
Procedures. From installing DBMS, to generating reports, all of these instructions are a
part of the procedures involved in DBMS.
 Users - People who can access the database for querying, updating, and generating
reports.
Application of DBMS

Sector Application

Universities Student information, courses, grades, etc.

Sales Customer information, sales, etc.

Finance Stock information, sales, bonds, etc.

Banking Customer information, account, activities, deposits, loans, etc.

Manufacturing Production information, suppliers, inventories, etc.

Airlines Customer information, schedules, reservations, etc.

HR Management Employee information, payroll, deduction, paychecks, etc.

Telecommunication Call records, bills, usage, etc.

Role of Key Players in Database Design and Development

Following are the various category of users of DBMS

Component Name Task

Designers are the group of people who actually work on the

designing part of the database. They keep a close watch on what
Designers
data should be kept and in what format. They identify and design
the whole set of entities, relations, constraints, and views.

Database Admin is responsible for managing the entire DBMS

Database Administrators
system. He/She is called Database admin or DBA.

The end users are the people who interact with the database
End-Users management system. They conduct various operations on
database like retrieving, updating, deleting, etc.

When Not to Use a DBMS?

Despite the earlier mentioned disadvantages, a DBMS system is still useful. However, the initial
investment required to build a DBMS infrastructure is quite high. Therefore, it is not ideal to use
DBMS for small projects where an organization cannot afford the hardware and training costs.
But, this is only when we are setting up our own database servers. Cloud databases are cheap and
come in handy, and anybody can use them.