Database Definitions

Field:  A space allocated for a particular item of information. A tax form, for example, contains a number of fields: one for your name, one for your Social Security number, one for your income, and so on. In database systems, fields are the smallest units of information you can access. In spreadsheets, fields are called cells.

Record:  In database management systems, a complete set of information. Records are composed of fields, each of which contains one item of information. A set of records constitutes a file. For example, a personnel file might contain records that have three fields: a name field, an address field, and a phone number field.
In relational database management systems, records are called tuples.

File: A collection of data or information that has a name. Almost all information stored in a computer must be in a file. Different types of files store different types of information. For example, program files store programs, whereas text files store text.

Query:  A request for information from a database

Database: Often abbreviated DB. A collection of information organized in such a way that a computer program can quickly select desired pieces of data. You can think of a database as an electronic filing system. Traditional databases are organized by fields, records, and files.

Report: A formatted and organized presentation of data. Most database management systems include a report writer that enables you to design and generate reports.

DBMS: Stands for Database Management System. This is a collection of programs that enables you to store, modify, and extract information from a database.

Data Dictionary: A data dictionary contains a list of all files in the database, the number of records in each file, and the names and types of each field. Most database management systems keep the data dictionary hidden from users to prevent them from accidentally destroying its contents.

Data Type: Is a classification of a particular type of information. It is easy for humans to distinguish between different types of data. We can usually tell at a glance whether a number is a percentage, a time, or an amount of money. We do this through special symbols -- %, :, and $ -- that indicate the data's type. Similarly, a computer uses special internal codes to keep track of the different types of data it processes.

1. Illustrate, with the aid of a table or diagram, what is a file, record and field.

                                   

The whole table is a file.

Data> field> Records> File

2. List as many commonly used databases as you think of – you should be able to come up with at least five.

      1. School Library

      2. Contacts

      3. Archives

      4. White Pages

      5. Itunes Library.