This document provides an overview of database management systems and the relational database model. It defines what data is, discusses the limitations of traditional file-based data storage, and describes how databases address these issues. The key aspects covered include the four main types of database management system approaches - hierarchical, network, relational, and object-oriented. Relational databases are identified as the preferred approach, with tables containing records made up of fields and attributes being the primary components.

1. Database Management
Systems
An Introduction to Databases and the Relational Database Model
By Nickkisha Farrell, BSc IT, Dip Ed
January 2014

2. IN THIS PRESENTATION
What is data anyway?
The traditional/file oriented approach
The database approach
Advantages of databases
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Database Management Systems - An overview

3. WHAT IS DATA ANYWAY?
• Raw Fact or value
• In order to derive meaningful information
from data some operation must be
performed on it.
• For Example:
• Weight= 112 is data
• Name = ‘Shanice’ is another piece of data
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4. THIS THING CALLED DATA
• Why is Data important? Data is important because
every decision that happens in the world is based on
some data
• It is one of the most precious resources for businesses
and individuals alike.
• For example, if Jim wants to buy a tablet, he will use
the data available to make the best decision regarding
the model. Data such as its cost, market value, etc.
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5. DATABASES
• Data is ubiquitous - it is every-where! All aspects of the modern
business feed off huge amounts of data.
• Data quantities are increasing at exponential rates.
• Databases provide a
flexible, reliable and secure way to
organize this data.
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6. DATABASES
• A Database is a group of related files
• For example:
• A Database on students may contain the names,
addresses and courses of students in a college.
• Are databases the only option? Couldn’t we just
use files, folders, paper and pencils to store data?
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7. THE PROBLEM WITH TRADITIONAL FILE STORAGE
• Data quantities are increasing at alarming rates, this poses
a challenge to storage by traditional techniques
• Data redundancy:
• Presence of duplicate/recurrence of data in multiple files, leads
to wasting of storage space
• Data inconsistency:
• Same attribute has different values or different application maybe
be used hence 1 piece of data may be formatted several different
ways thus interoperability of data between programs prove
difficult (Windows versus Mac)
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8. THE PROBLEM WITH TRADITIONAL FILE STORAGE
• Program-data dependence:
• When changes in program requires changes to data accessed by
program.
• Lack of Integrity - Data is susceptible to human error (eg American
versus British style of recording dates)
• Concurrent Access anomalies When many people try to write a
piece of data concurrently
• Poor security
• Lack of data sharing and availability
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9. THE DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM APPROACH
• A Database Management System[DBMS] is a
combination of related files (the database) and
programs which allow users to work on data (the
management system)
• DBMS eliminates the various problems that are
associated with file storage by:
• Interfacing between applications and physical data files
• Separates logical and physical views of data
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10. THE DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM APPROACH
• The DBMS:
• Controls redundancy
• Eliminates inconsistency
• Uncouples programs and data
• Enables organization to centrally manage data and
data security
• In real-life, DBMS are widely used in almost every industry.
- For example in banking - to manage customer accounts
- In travel - to manage reservations for airline companies
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11. DATABASE CONCEPTS
• A Database is a collection of related files containing
records on specific entities.
• Entities may be people, places or objects.
• A Table has a specified number of columns, but can
have any number of rows.
A database table showing
data stored on customers
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12. DATABASE CONCEPTS
• Field – represented by a column is an attribute or characteristic
of an entity. A field name may be thought of as a question, and
every cell within that field as a response to that question.
• Record – represented by a row is one unit of information. Every
cell on a given row is part of that row's record.
• Table/file/relation - grid of columns and rows
The vertical columns of a
table are recognized by
their name.
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13. TYPES OF DBMS
• There are four (4) main DBMS approaches




Hierarchical
Network
Relational
Object Oriented
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14. TYPES OF DBMS
Hierarchical and Network DBMS
• Called ‘‘navigational’’ approaches because of the way
that programs have to ‘‘navigate’’ through hierarchies
and networks of data to find the data they need. Both
of these technologies were developed in the 1960s
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• IBM’s Information Management System (IMS), a DBMS
based on the hierarchical approach, was released in
1969. The hierarchical approach only supported 1 – M
relationships, that is each child node could have only
one parent.
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15. TYPES OF DBMS
• Hierarchical and Network DBMS
 Were suitable only for mainframe computers.
 An elegant solution to the redundancy/integration problem
at the time that they were developed.
 Were complex, difficult to work with in many respects.
 Now often called ‘‘legacy systems,’’ some of them
interestingly have survived to this very day for certain
applications that require a lot of data and fast data
response times.
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16. TYPES OF DBMS
• The relational database
Invented by E. F. Codd at IBM in 1970.
Became commercially viable in about 1980.
Is the preferred DBMS approach.
A relational database is a set of tables containing data
fitted into predefined categories (attributes).
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17. TYPES OF DBMS
• The relational database
 Each table (which is sometimes called a relation) contains one or
more data categories in columns. Each row contains a unique
instance of data for the categories defined by the columns.
 For example, a typical business order entry database would include
a table that described a customer with columns for
name, address, phone number, and so forth. Another table would
describe an order: product, customer, date, sales price, and so
forth.
 A user of the database could obtain a view of the database that
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18. TYPES OF DBMS
• Object-Oriented Approach
 Allows the definition of objects, which are different from
normal database objects.
 Objects, in an object-oriented database, reference the
ability to develop a product, then define and name it.
 The object can then be referenced, or called later, as a
unit without having to go into its complexities.
 This is very similar to objects used in object-oriented
programming.
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19. SUMMARY
• Data is a ubiquitous and important
• A Database is a collection of related data
• A DBMS is used to manage a database
• A Database consists primarily of Tables
• A Table consists of: Records (Rows in a table)
• Attributes are columns in a table also called fields
• There are four major types of DBMS Approaches
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20. REFERENCES
• Gillenson, Mark L.,2012, Fundamentals of Database
Management Systems / Mark L. Gillenson.—2nd ed., John
Wiley and sons inc
• http://www.gcflearnfree.org/access2013
• http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/definition/relationaldatabase
• http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/
Object-relational_database.html
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