Inf282 Chapter 1 Database Systems

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ad hoc query

Back 1

a “spur of the moment” question

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centralized database

Back 2

a database located at a single site

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data

Back 3

raw facts, that is, that have not yet been processed to reveal their meaning to the user

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data anomaly

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in a distributed DBMS, describes the process of deciding where to locate data fragments

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data inconsistency

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a condition in which different versions of the same data yield different (inconsistent) results

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data independence

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a condition that exists when data access is unaffected by changes in the physical data storage characteristics

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data integrity

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in a relational database, refers to a condition in which the data in the database is in compliance with all entity and referential integrity constraints

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data management

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a process that focuses on data collection, storage, and retrieval. Common data management functions include addition, deletion, modification, and listing.

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data redundancy

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a condition that exists when a data enviroment contains redundant (unnecessarily duplicated) data

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data warehouse

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Bill Inmon, the acknowledged “father of the data warehouse,” defines the term as “an integrated, subject-oriented, time-variant, nonvolatile collection of data the provides support for decision making.”

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database

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a shared, integrated computer structure that houses a collection of related data. A database contains two types of data: end-user data(raw facts) and metadata. The metadata consist of data about data that is the data characteristics and relationships.

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database design

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the process that yields the description of the database structure. The database design process determines the database components. Database design is the second phase of the database life cycle.

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database management system (DBMS)

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refers to the collection of programs that manages the database structure and controls access to the data stored in the database

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database system

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an organization of components that defines and regulates the collection, storage, management, and use of data in a database environment.

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desktop database

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a single-user database that runs on a personal computer

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distributed database

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a logically related database that is stored over two or more physically independent
sites.

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enterprise database

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the overall company data representation ,which provides support for present and expected future needs

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extensible markup language (XML)

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a metalanguage used to represent and manipulate data elements.
Unlike other markup languages, XML permits the manipulation of a document's data elements. XML is designed to facilitate the exchange of structured documents such as orders and invoices over the internet

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field

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a character or group of characters that defines a characteristic of a person, place, or thing

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file

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a named collection of records

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information

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the result of processing raw data to reveal its meaning. Information consists of transformed data and facilitates decision making

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islands of information

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a term used in the old-style file system enviroment to refer to independent, often duplicated, and inconsistent data pools created and managed by different organizational departments

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knowledge

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the body of information and fact about a specific subject. Knowledge implies familiarity, awareness, and understanding of information as it applies to an environment. A key characteristic of knowledge is that “new” knowledge can be derived from “old” knowledge.

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logical data format

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the way in which a human being views data

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metadata

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data about data, that is, data concerning data characteristics and relationships. Related to a data dictionary

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multiuser database

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a database that supports multiple concurrent users

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operational database

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a database that is designed primarily to support a company's day to day operations. Also known as a transactional database or production database

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performance tuning

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activities that makes a database perform more efficiently in terms of storage and access speed.

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physical data format

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the way in which a computer stores data

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production database

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the main database designed to keep track of the day to day operations of a company

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query

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a question or tasked asked by an end user of a database in the form of SQL code. A specific request for data manipulation issued by the end user or the application to the DBMS

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query language

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a nonprocedural language that is used by a DMBS to manipulate its data. ( ex: SQL)

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query result set

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the collection of data rows that are returned by a query

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record

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a collection of related, logically connected, fields(columns)

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single-user database

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a database that supports only one user at a time

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structural dependence

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a data characteristic that exists when a change in the database schema affects data, thus requiring changes in all access programs

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structural independence

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a data characteristic that exists when changes in the database schema do not affect data access

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structured data

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unstructured data that have been formatted (structured) to facilitate storage, use, and information generation

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Structured Query Language (SQL)

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a powerful and flexible relational database language composed of commands that enable users to create database and table structures, preform various data manipulation and data administration, and query the database to extract useful information

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transactional database

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a database designed to keep track of the day-to-day transactions of an organization

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unstructured data

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data that exist in their original/raw state

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workgroup database

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a multiuser database that supports a relatively small number of users(usually less that 50) or that is used for a specific department in an organization

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XML

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extensible markup language

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XML database

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a database system that stores and manages semistructured XML data