Database software is a program that controls the structure of database and access to the data. In other words, a database is any electronically stored collection of data in a computer system.
Sometimes data base software referred to as a database management system helps the people to enter, find, organize update and report information stored in a database.
It is a computer program which allows a user to create, maintain and process database information and to access, display and manipulate that information.
Databases can be stored in personal computers, network servers, web servers, mainframes and even handheld computers.
Principal features of database software are as follows:
- Data base creation. Users can create a database by creating files (or tables). Each table has several fields. A field is a string of one or more characters. A field can have the attribute of text, data number, even object. After the format of a table is created users can input records into database. A record is collection of related fields. An example is a person’s name, address and phone number.
- File or report selection and display. After a database (consisting of several files) is created, users can manipulate this database by issuing queries. The function of a query is to screen all records by defined criteria.
- Database update. Users can deleted, add, or change record in a data file.
- Database calculation and formatting. Some database management system contains built in mathematical formulas. This feature can be used, for example, to find the average number of a selected group, as to find the average age of all customers who live in California.
Databases are most suitable when dealing with data that is arranged into a large number of structured records, for example a list of customer names and addresses or a list of stock in a warehouse.
Database Software
