Database
A database is an organized collection of data, typically stored and accessed electronically from a computer system. Databases are commonly used to store information for reference, reporting, and analysis. Several different types of databases exist, such as relational, hierarchical, object-oriented, and graph databases.
A database is managed using a database management system (DBMS), a software application that serves as an interface between the user and the database. Common DBMSs include MySQL, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and IBM DB2.
A database typically consists of one or more tables, with rows and columns of data. Tables are used to represent sets of related data. A row describes a single record or entity and contains the values of the entities attributes. Columns are used to describe the attributes of the table, containing the names of the attributes.
Databases are often used to store metadata, control user access, and provide integrity and security of stored data. Security features include user authentication, authorization, and access control. Database redundancy is commonly used to ensure data integrity and recover lost data in the event of a system failure or power outage.
Databases are used in a wide variety of applications, such as electronic commerce, customer relationship management, accounting, and financial management. Databases are also widely used to store information for the development of web applications, such as blogs and social networking sites.
The popularity of databases is due in part to advances in computer technology, which have enabled the development of sophisticated database systems. As a result, databases have become an integral part of modern computing.
