A Brief Overview of Databases

A database is a collection of some information that is stored over time in a structured format for retrieval at a later time. This is a vague definition, but by this definition, even a simple file system is an example of a database. This is reasonably accurate.

In practice, a system that allows for the storing of information and some capabilities to manage that data is referred to as a database. Thus, a database can be defined as a system that

• Supports the creation and management of data using some data structure.

• Supports a means of data entry into the data structure.

• Supports a means for searching and retrieving the data.

• Supports the manipulation of the data (editing, deleting, and so on).