Databases Flashcards
What are features of a database?
A system for organising, storing and retrieving data | Stores records on employees, customers and suppliers | Data can be searched for using queries and sorted quickly | Information held in tables and queries can be displayed effectively using forms and reports
What are advantages of a database?
Data can be stored in one place to be accessed by staff which allows efficient sharing of data | Data can be kept securely through password protection and access right settings | Quality decisions can be made from uptodate and accurate data | Using queries saves time retrieving information
What is the purpose of a query?
Used to retrieve data from one or more tables | It allows users to filter records, perform calculations and summarise based on certain criteria | They can be used to create reports and generate forms
What is the purpose of a Form?
Is a layout that allows you to enter information one record at a time | Forms are connected to tables and they can be used to make changes to existing records
What is the purpose of a Report?
Is used to produce a summary of the information in a database. They are formatted to make them easier to read and for decision making purposes | Reports don’t change once report is generated - not used for data entry | Generated for viewing and printing
What is the purpose of a Primary Key?
A field which uniquely identifies a record in a database
What is the purpose of a Foreign Key?
Is a primary key from one table which is used in a second table to link the tables together
What is the purpose of a Relational Database?
A database which contains two or more related tabled | The tables are linked by primary and foreign keys
What is the purpose of a query?
Retrieves information stored in a database from one or more tables | They can also be used to filter, sort and calculate based on specific criteria
