INTRODUCTION TO DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

DATA

      Data is the raw material from which useful information is derived.The word data is the plural of Datum.Data is commonly used in both singular and plural forms.It is defined as raw facts or observations.It takes variety of forms,including numeric data,text and voices and images.

     Data is a collection of facts,which is unorganized but can made organized into useful information.The team Data and information come across in our daily life and are often interchanged.

    Example:Weights,prices,costs,number of items sold etc.

INFORMATION

    Data that have been processed in such a way so as to increase the Knowledge of the person who uses the data is Know as information.The term data and information are closely related.Data are raw material resources that are processed into finished information products.The information as data that has been processed in such a way,increases the Knowledge of the person who use it.

   In practice,the database today may contain either data or information.

DATA PROCESSING (OR) INFORMATION PROCESSING

   The process of converting the facts into meaningful information is Know as data processing.Data processing is also Know as Information processing.

METADATA

   Data that describe the properties of other data is Know as Metadata.Actually,Metadata keeps the information of other data i.e.,it keeps the information,how and where the other data is stored.Some of  these properties includes data definition,data structures and rules or constraints (conditions).The Metadata describes the properties of data but do not include the data.It allows the database designer and users to understand what data exist,what does data mean and what are the distinctions between seemingly similar data items.

   In short,Matadata is data about data.

DATABASE

   A database  is a collection of data (information)of some given enterprise,that can be processed through one or more application programs by multiple users.An enterprise can be a single individual (with small personal data) OR a complete corporation (with large shared data).

for example: a bank, a university, a company etc.

DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

     A Database Management system (DBMS) is defined as " A software that provides an environment that is both convenient and efficient to use in storing and retrieving the data (database) of an enterprise". This software defines the data,stores the data,supports query language (containing accessor programs to access or retrieve the stored data),produces reports and creates the data entry screens.In short,A Database Management system means a system managing the database of a particular enterprise in both the convenient and efficient manner.