This document discusses data independence and the three-schema architecture in database systems. It explains that the schema is the overall structure or design of a database, while a subschema is a subset of the schema that inherits its properties and provides a window for users to view specific parts of the database. The three-schema architecture consists of the physical, logical, and view levels. The physical level deals with how data is stored, the logical level describes what data is stored and relationships, and the view level presents an external schema that users interact with. Data independence allows changes to schemas at one level without affecting higher levels, as seen through examples of logical and physical data independence.