Database management system, commonly abbreviated as DBMS, is a system software which is used to create and manage databases. It allows its users to create, store, retrieve, update and manage data effective in a systematic way. It is used to manipulate certain components of data such as its format, record structures, names of field and file structures etc, which is done following certain specified rules.
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Functions
Database management system is an incredibly useful tool. It helps users store and manage data in a systematic format. Following are some of its important functions.
Data Dictionary Management
The storage of definition of the data elements and their relationships in a data dictionary, and its maintenance is a crucial job. Data dictionary is used to look up the necessary data component structures and their relationships. If an owner makes any change in the database structure that will automatically be updated and recorded in the data dictionary. It therefore, provides data abstraction and works in ensuring a successful removal of the need for structure and dependency from the system.
Data Storage Management
It is important to be able to store data like entry forms, data validation rules, report definition, procedural codes, etc in the systems along with all the traditional data which makes it convenient and systematic. It helps you allocate the right place for your concerned data, making it easy to access. It is important to have a good storage management in order to increase the speed and efficiency of the database.
Data Transformation and Presentation
Data Transformation and Presentation helps in determining the difference between physical and logical data formats. Thus, it works in converting the format in which the physically retrieved data is, in order to make it comply with the user’s expectation. Often due to differences in style, the data is input in different formats by different users but it is converted accordingly to ensure that the user receives the data in the style he or she prefers.
Security Management
Security management is incredible crucial a process which operates by creating a security system which fulfills all the user security and data privacy needs. It helps you in creating different levels of access for different users in a multi user system where the super user decides who has the right o simply view or edit or modify or even delete fields or data. It also keeps a track of every user who has accessed the database. Although it is not a cheap solution, it is an incredibly effective and useful one.
Multi User Access Control
Often it is noticed that multiple users access the same data database, its integrity and consistency are badly affected, leading to a breakdown of the system. But with proper database management, it can be assured that irrespective of use, its integrity remains the same.
Backup and Recovery Management
It is important to ensure the data safety and integrity and therefore, backup and data recovery are of utmost importance. Due to some system error or human mistake, data can be misplaced or lost forever, unless a strong data recovery system is in place. Thus, the Data administrator has a special right to perform routine as well as special backup and restore procedures.
It is important to choose a good data integration for aggregating, synchronizing and migrating data across systems and databases. It can actually make your database management much easier to handle. Its application integration capabilities enables IT departments to be more productive and to be more responsive to the needs of the business. It makes your business users as well as IT staff more productive.
