Introduction to Databases Flashcards
What do DBMS comprise of
- Collection of interrelated data
- A set of programs to access the data
- An environment convenient and efficient
What are the drawbacks of filesystems over Databases?
- Data redundancy and inconsistency
- Difficult to access
- Data Isolation
- Integrity problems
- Atomicity of Updates
- Concurrent Access
- Security
What does data integrity mean?
Data integrity refers to the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of data throughout its entire lifecycle. It ensures that data remains unchanged during storage, transmission, or processing and that it is reliable for use. Maintaining data integrity is crucial in various fields, including databases, information systems, and data storage.
What is data inconsistency?
Data inconsistency refers to a situation in which the same piece of data is stored in multiple locations or instances within a system, and these copies of the data become out of sync or contradictory. Inconsistencies can arise from various factors, such as software bugs, human errors, system failures, or issues with data synchronization
What are the benefits of Electronic Record Keeping as against Physical Record Keeping?
- Durability
- Scalability
- Security
- Retrieval
- Ease of Use
- Consistency
- Efficiency
- Cost
Where does a File System perform better than a DBMS?
- File Handling
- Initial Setup
- Arithmetic and logical operations support
What is data robustness?
Data robustness refers to the ability of a system or dataset to maintain its stability, integrity, and functionality in the face of adverse conditions, errors, or unexpected events. A system with high data robustness can handle disruptions, errors, or changes without experiencing a significant loss of performance or reliability.
What are the levels of abstraction in DBMS?
- Physical Level
- Logical Level
- View Level
What is a logical schema?
the overall logical structure of the database analogous to “type” information of a variable in a program
What is an instance of a database?
The actual content of the database at a particular point in time, is analogous to the value of a variable.
What is Physical Data Independence?
Physical Data Independence is the ability to modify the physical schema without
changing the logical schema
What are the types of Data Models?
- Relational Model (RDBMS)
- Object-Oriented Model
- Network Model
- Hierarchical Model
How are data stored in the Relational Model?
Data is stored as tables in Relational Model
What is a Data Dictionary?
The data dictionary contains metadata (that is, data about data)
◦ Database schema
◦ Integrity constraints - Primary key (ID uniquely identifies instructors)
◦ Authorization
What is Data Definition Language (DDL)?
Specification notation for defining the database schema. DDL compiler generates a set of table templates stored in a data dictionary