DEFINATION AND APPLICATIONS OF DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Q. What do you mean by database management system? What is the primary goal of database management system?

Ans: Database management system: A database management system (DBMS) consists of a collection of interrelated data and a set of programs to access that data. The collection of data referred database and the data describe one particular enterprise.

Primary goal: The primary goal of a DBMS is to provide an environment that is both convenient and efficient for people to use in retrieving and storing information.

Database systems are designed to manage large bodies of information. The management of data involves both the definition of structures for the storage of information and the provision of mechanisms for the manipulation of information. The database system must provide for the safety of the information stored, despite system crashes or attempts at unauthorized access.

Q. Describe the application area of database management system.

Ans: Databases are widely used. Here are some representative applications:

• Banking: For customer information, accounts, loans and banking transaction.


• Airlines: For reservation and schedule information.


• Universities: For student information, course registrations and grades.


• Credit card transaction: For purchases on credit cards and generation of monthly statement.


• Telecommunication: For keeping records of calls made, generating monthly bills, maintaining balances on prepaid calling cards and storing information about the communication network.


• Finance: For storing information about holdings, sales and purchases of financial instruments such as stocks and bonds.


• Sales: For customer, products and purchase information.


• On-line retailers: For sales data noted above plus on-line order tracking, generation of recommendation lists and maintenance of on-line product evaluations.


• Manufacturing: For management of the supply chain and for tracking production of items in factories, inventories of items in warehouses and stores and orders for items.


• Human resources: For information about employees, salaries, payroll taxes, benefits and for generation of paychecks.

As the list illustrates, databases form an essential part of almost all enterprises today.