Chapter 7: Database Applications and Privacy Implications

Database

• a collection of information stored in an organized form in a computer
• make it easier to store large quantities of information
• make it easier to retrieve information quickly and flexibly
• make it easy to organize an reorganize information
• make it easy to print and distribute information in a variety of ways

Database program- software tool for organizing storage and retrieval of that information

a database is typically made up of one or more tables.

table- collection of related information; it keeps that information together the way a folder in a file cabinet does

a database tale is a collection of records.

record- the information related to one person, product, or event . They can be modified, added or deleted.

field- each discrete chunk of information in a record

example- a CD database breaks records into fields by title, artists, and so on

type of information a field can hold is determined by field type/ data type

field type/ data type- characteristic of a field that determines the kind of information that can be stored in that field

Different field types allow fields to contain numerics, date values, graphics, sounds, and video clips.

Computed field- a field containing formulas similar to spreadsheet formulas, displaying values calculated from values in other numeric field

Many database programs allow you the view the data in more than one way

• List views- showing data by displaying several records in lists similar to a spreadsheet

After the structure of a database is defined, entering information is simple. Typing may not even be needed if the data already exists in a computer-readable form. Most database programs can import data in text files created with word processors, spreadsheets, or other databases

Various ways to access information: browsing, keyboard commands, on-screen buttons, etc.

Most database programs include variety of commands and capabilities that make is simple to access information.

Alternative to browsing is query (simple search for a specific record)

stored query- commonly used search recorded in the database so it can be accessed quickly in the future

examples

-electronic phone directory, electronic street atlas, geographical information systems (GISs) , personal information manager (PIM)

PIM includes following functions: address/phone book, appointment calendar, to-do list, miscellaneous notes

Database-management system (DBMS)- manipulation of data in a large collection of files

relational database- database with related tables; files are related as well

batch processing- accumulating transaction and feeding them into a computer in larger batches or quantities at a time

interactive processing-