Database System and Different Types of Database

Systems:
Definition and Explanation:
A database is a collection of related data stored in an efficient and compact manner. The word
"efficient" means that stored data can be accessed very easily arid quickly. Similarly, the word
"compact" means that stored data takes up as little space as possible. In the above definition of
database, the phrase "related data" is used. It means that a database contains data or information
about a particular topic such as:
i.
ii.

Database of employees that contains data of employees of an organization or department.

Database of students that contains data of students of a college/university etc.

A database holds related data as well as description of that data. For this reason, a database is also
defined as a self-describing collection of integrated records. The description of data is known as the
system catalog or data dictionary or metadata (It means data about data). For example, when a
table of a database is designed, the data type, size, format and other descriptions of fields are
specified. This is an example of metadata, which describes the properties of data to be stored in the
fields of the table.
The data of any organization is its integral part. It helps in developing new products and their
marketing. The data must be accurate and available when over needed. This is the reason that all
organizations desire to organize and manage their data into databases. The databases are used for
variety of purposes in an organization.

Examples of Database System:

When you purchase goods from your local supermarket, the checkout assistant will pass the
purchased product through a scanner device known as bar code reader. This device will read the bar
code printed on the product and gives the accurate price of the item. Actually, the barcode reader is
accessing the database, which contains the information about the products. The bar code reader is
linked to a database application program, which uses the bar code to access price of item. The
database program automatically updates the database. The assistant can also check whether a
required item is. in stock by running the database application program. Similarly, you can purchase
goods using your credit card. Your credit is checked by a card reader linked to a computer system. In
this case, there is a database somewhere that contains information about your credit.
Almost all the organizations and government departments in every country of the world use
databases to maintain their records.
Some examples of large databases that have been developed around the world are:
1. When you draw amount from bank through ATM card, you are accessing a database. Your
account is accessed and checked through Auto Teller Machine (ATM). When you draw some amount
from your account, your record in the database is automatically updated immediately.

2. When you enquire about a flight, a travel agent may access several databases containing flight
details.
3. When you visit your local library, there may be a computerized database containing details of the
books in the library. There will be a computerized index, which allows you to find a book with
reference to its title, or its author's name etc.
4. In a college or university, there may be a database containing information about the present and
previous students.
5. The popular web sites of the world "Hotmail.com" and "Yahoo.com" contain online database
having free e-mail accounts of users all over the world.
6. The meteorological organization/department contains databases having . information about
current and previous meteorological data. The meteorological department is totally dependent on the
meteorological
data.
A database may be generated and maintained manually or it may be computerized. The library card
catalog is an example of a database that is created and maintained manually. On the other hand, a
computerized
database
may
be
created
and
maintained either by using application' program, which is developed specifically for that purpose or
by a database management system.

Types of Databases System:

The databases may be of different types but there are two generic types of database
architectures. These are:
1. Centralized Databases
2. Distributed Databases

1. Centralized Databases:
A database whose complete data is located at a single computer (called database server) and all the
users access this single database only, is known as centralized database. A centralized database
provides an efficient way to access and update data. These databases are usually used in computer
network environments. The examples of centralized databases are:
i.
ii.
iii.

Personal computer databases.

Client/Server databases.
Central computer databases.

(i) Personal Computer Databases:

A personal computer database is normally created and maintained by a single user on his
personal computer. The personal computer databases are commonly used in small businesses or
organizations. The personal computer databases are used for simple accounting, inventory
management, and customer billing systems etc. These are relatively simple to develop and use. The
main problem with the personal computer database is that the data can not easily be shared among
different users.

(ii) Central Computer Databases:

Central computer databases are generally used in the organizations where no security or proper
authentication of users is needed. One of the computers in a network is selected to host the
database, which is created using Ms-Access etc. Other users in the network freely access this
database without any authentication through any server computer. The central computer database
system is shown in figure 1.4.

(iii) Client/Server Databases:

The client/server databases are used in small to medium sized organizations or businesses to
share data among multiple users the organization. The microcomputers are often used in a local
area network.
The client/server architecture is shown in figure 1.5. The client/server architecture is designed for the
distribution of work on a computer network in which many clients may share the data (or services) on
a single server, A server (which includes software called DBMS and a computer) provides back-end
functions requested by clients. The back-end functions may be database management,
communication managements, printing etc. A client (which generally includes a microcomputer and
software applications installed into it) provides, front-end functions, which sends requests to server
and retrieves results from the server.

The main objective of client/server architecture is to allow multiple users in the network to access
databases or to share related data. Usually, the database processing functions are performed on the
database server. The client/server systems are often used for work-group computing and it is more
secure than central computer databases as server computer allows access to the database to only
authenticated users on client computers.

(2) Distributed Databases:

Many organizations/departments have sub-offices in different cities and countries. In such cases, the
distributed "databases are used instead of centralized databases. A distributed database is a single
logical database, which is spread physically across multiple computers (called database servers)
over wide area network. Such databases are managed by the organizations having offices in
different cities or countries.
For example, in distributed database system some of the database tables may be maintained at one
location with a DBMS, while another group of database tables may be maintained at another
computer with a DBMS. The figure shows the multi-campus university database. Any user at any
campus can access data of his campus as well as of other campuses because of mutual
communication between database servers at both campuses.

The distributed databases are further divided into two categories.

(i) Homogeneous databases.
(ii) Heterogeneous databases.

(i) Homogeneous Databases:

The homogeneous database means that the database technology is the same at each of the
locations (or sites) and the data at various locations are also compatible. In a homogeneous system,
all nodes use the same hardware and software for the database system. The homogeneous system
is
comparatively
easier
to
design
and
manage.

The following conditions must be satisfied for homogeneous database.

The operating system used at each location must be same or compatible.

The data structures used at each location must be same or compatible.

The database application (or DBMS) used at each location must be same or compatible.

(ii) Heterogeneous Databases:

The heterogeneous database systems are opposite to homogeneous database systems. In a
heterogeneous system, different nodes may have different hardware & software and data structures
at various nodes or locations are also incompatible.
Different computers, operating systems, and database applications (or data models) may be used at
each of the locations of databases. For example, one location may have the latest relational
database management technology, while another location may store- data using conventional files or
old version of database management system. Similarly, one location may have the Windows NT
operating system, while another may have the UNIX.
Heterogeneous systems are usually used when individual sites use their own hardware and
software. On heterogeneous system, translations are required to allow communication between
different sites (or DBMS). In this system, the users must be able to make requests in a database
language at their local sites. Usually the SQL database language is used for this purpose. The
heterogeneous system is often not technically or economically feasible. In this system, a user at one
location may be able to read but unable to update the data at another location.