Unit 4a Flashcards
Defined as recorded facts and figures
Data
Purpose to collect meaningful Information
Database
Systematic way to access data stored within database
Database System
Set of programs and utilities executed on computer to create, process, and administer a database
Database Management System (DBMS)
Database consists of one large table
Flat File Database
Consists of numerous tables containing rows and columns of data
Relational Database
Known facts recorded and have implicit meaning
Data
Data in database remains unchanged until acted upon
Persistent
Data in database interacts and corresponds with other data within the database
Integrated
Data in database has ability to be accessed and/or manipulated by multiple users
Shared
Computer equipment needed to use and maintain database
Hardware
Individuals using, manipulating or maintaining aspects of the database
User
Customers using product to query, update and generate reports generally using “canned transactions”
End User
Responsible for identifying data to be stored in database as well as choosing appropriate structures to represent and store data
Database Designer
Primary individual (or individuals) responsible for technical implementation and maintenance of database
Database Administrator (DBA)
Write programs designed to use or allow access to database with specific intended purpose
Application Programmers
Refers to an object to store information in
Entities
Provide description of the characteristics of the entity (Table)
Attributes
Single unique occurrence of an entity within table
Instance
Relational databases use this to express an absence of value
Null
Can dictate attribute must have value
Not Null
May dictate attribute entered into table is distinctly different from all other values in that attribute
Unique
Provide “key” to making relational theory work
Special Attributes
Specific attribute or set of attributes having been selected as unique identifier for the entity (Table)
Primary Key
Attributes within an entity (Table) that exist as Primary Key in another entity (Table)
Foreign Key
Relationships used to show where shared data values occur between entities
Parent-Child Relationships
Used to visually represent relationship of all entities in database
Entity Relationship (ER) Diagram
