The document provides an introduction to database management systems (DBMS). It discusses what a DBMS is, common applications of databases, the difference between data and information, database components, objectives of a DBMS, the evolution of DBMS components over time including data manager, disk manager, data dictionary, query processor, and more. It also covers different database models such as hierarchical, relational, network, object-oriented, and classifications of DBMS based on data model, number of users, and database distribution.