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Computer Science A-Level > Databases and Distributed Systems > Flashcards

Databases and Distributed Systems Flashcards

1
Q

Acceptance Testing

A

will be carried out by the customer. They will test that a system meets their requirements. If the system passes this test the customer will sign-off the system as being ready for deployment into production running

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2
Q

ACID Properties

A

atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability

ensure database operations execute properly without errors

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3
Q

Attribute

A

a feature of an entity

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4
Q

Automated Testing

A

where computer-controlled equipment tests programs for functionality and performance

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5
Q

Automatic Formatting of Code

A

automatically formats code in the right way, for example, automatically indenting code

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6
Q

Binary File

A

stores data in non-human readable format

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7
Q

Black-Box Testing

A

a test technique in which the test feeds specific pieces of data into a system, before looking for expected outcome

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8
Q

Branch

A

requests and independent line of development that stems from a central database

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9
Q

Break Points

A

causes the program to run up to a point and then pause, allowing for variable inspection

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10
Q

Check In

A

involves uploading a modified file after making changes locally

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11
Q

Check Out

A

refers to process by which a developer or user acquires a copy of a specific version of a file

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12
Q

Code Repository

A

these hold libraries of reusable code or data

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13
Q

Composite Key

A

set of two or more fields that together uniquely identify each record in a table

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14
Q

Conceptual Model

A

a representation of the data requirements of an organisation constructed in a way that is independent of any software that is used to construct the database

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15
Q

Concurrency

A

a unique characteristic enabling two or more users to retrieve information from the database at the same time without affecting database integrity

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16
Q

CASE

A

Computer-Aided Software Engineering

the name given to a range of software tools that aid the design, development and testing of different types of software

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17
Q

Lower CASE

A

provides support in the later stages such as testing

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18
Q

Upper CASE

A

provide support for the early stages of the system’s development life cycle, providing support for stages such as design

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19
Q

Data

A

a set of raw facts and figures with no apparent meaning

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20
Q

Database

A

a structure collection of data

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21
Q

Database Administrators

A

specially trained people to install and manage databases

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22
Q

Database Management System (DBMS)

A

a software system that enables the definition, creation and maintenance of a database and which provides controlled access to the database

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23
Q

Data Dictionary

A

a collection of data and attributes about data elements that are being used in a database, describing the meanings and purpose of data elements within the projects context and provides guidance on interpretation

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24
Q

Database Integrity

A

how accurate a database is, questioned in flatfile databases, because if one entity changes, multiple records have to be changed

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25
Q

Database Method

A

because all access to the database is under DBMS, all data is under centralised control, so the system is program-data independent, making it easier to control access to data, backup data and access data and create new applications

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26
Q

Data Redundancy

A

where data is unintentionally duplicated, reduced in databases

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27
Q

Degree of Relationship

A

between two entities, refers to the number of entity occurrences of one entity which are associated with just one entity occurrence of the other and vice versa

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28
Q

Deletion Anomalies

A

occur when information is lost because a single record is removed from the fact-file

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29
Q

Entity

A

the thing you are collecting data about

30
Q

Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD)

A

shows how different entities relate to each other in an application or database

31
Q

Field

A

a single piece of information which is stored within a row, for example, first name, email, date of birth

32
Q

File

A

a data structure that is always stored on a device that is a collection of records

33
Q

Flatfile Database

A

one spreadsheet with one table, eg Excel

34
Q

Foreign Key

A

a field in one table that is a primary key in another table and is used to create a link between these tables

35
Q

Hierarchical Database

A

a data model where the database is arranged into a parent-child structure

36
Q

Information

A

data with meaning

37
Q

Inheritance

A

the relationship between two object types in which one is a kind of the other and shares some of its properties or behaviours

38
Q

Manual Testing

A

where a person manually tests programs for functionality and performance

39
Q

Memory Protection

A

a way to control memory access rights to a computer, where RAM is set up so that, by default, it cannot access various pieces of data without causing a memory error so that two programs cannot use the same memory location

40
Q

Multi-Transactions

A

consists of multiple, interdependent transactions spread across different databases and systems, eg transferring money from one account to another

41
Q

Network Database

A

represents data in a tree-like structure, where pointers connect records in a network or graph structure

42
Q

Normalised Entity

A

a set of entities that contain no redundant data

43
Q

OS Authentication

A

where authentication is delegated to the OS

44
Q

Performance Testing

A

carried out to ensure that a system will be able to cope with the required workload

45
Q

Primary Key

A

a single field that acts as a unique identifier for each record in a table

46
Q

Program-Data Independence

A

where changes to the program design don’t force the data file structure to be changed

47
Q

Record

A

a collection of data for one item, person or thing

48
Q

Referential Integrity

A

if a value appears in a foreign key in one table it must also appear in the primary key in another table

49
Q

Relation

A

set of attributes and tuples, modelling an entity

50
Q

Relational Database

A

a database where data is held in more than one table, with tables linked together using relationships

51
Q

Relationship

A

a link between two entities, implemented in a database using primary and foreign keys

52
Q

Roll-Back

A

allows software developers to undo changes made to a system and revert back to a previous version

53
Q

Run-Time Diagnostics

A

this creates a virtual machine that emulates a system that the program is designed for when it’s not specifically designed for that platform

54
Q

Schemas

A

a collection of database objects

55
Q

Screen Design Software

A

allows the design of screens

56
Q

Shared Memory

A

where memory protection does not occur but may lead to memory corruption if it is not made read-only

57
Q

Single Transaction

A

refers to a series of one or more database operations resulting in one action, completed successfully, such as withdrawing money from an ATM

58
Q

Software Engineering

A

an engineering approach to software development and is the process of designing, developing, testing, and maintaining software systems, different to programming due to the focus on engineering, so a software engineer will involve more mathematic and scientific methods

59
Q

Step Through

A

steps through program one statement at a time, allowing faults in program logic to be identified

60
Q

Syntax Highlighting

A

displays code in different colours and fonts according to categories of terms

61
Q

System Testing

A

often carried out by a specialist testing team, who will check that the system as a whole works as required. System testers will not usually be involved in the development of individual programs

62
Q

Table

A

collection of related data made up of fields and records

63
Q

Tagging Version

A

allows developers to assign a label to a specific point in history, serving as a reference point

64
Q

Text File

A

shares data in human readable format

65
Q

Transaction

A

this represents a change in the database, providing reliable units of work to allow database recovery and provide isolation between programs accessing a database concurrently

66
Q

Unit Testing

A

often performed by the developer, and check that a program functions as required

67
Q

Unproductive Maintenance

A

where changes to program design force the data file structure to be changed, occurs in factfiles

68
Q

Variable Watch

A

the act of observing a specific variable whilst the program runs, which the programmer can do whilst using variable inspection

69
Q

Version Numbers

A

where previous versions are numbered in order to keep track of the current version

70
Q

Warning Messages

A

allow early detection of issues such as unused variables optimising performance

71
Q

Whitebox Testing

A

tester will feed data into a system that ensure that all path through the code are used and therefore testing

72
Q

Wire-Framing Software

A

help map out the user experience, layout, and overall flow, streamlining the design process

Computer Science A-Level (18 decks)

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