10/15/2025 Fundamental of Database System 1

DEBRE BERHAN UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF COMPUTING
DEPARTMENT OF IT/SWE

Course Title: Fundamentals Of Database Systems

CHAPTER ONE :Introduction to Database Systems

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Topics to be covered
 Overview

Basics of Database

 File organization verses Database approach

Users and actors of Database system

Characteristics of the Database Approach

Actors on the Scene

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Basic definitions
Data: Raw facts that can be recorded and do not give full meaning
about objects.
▶ It simply exists and has no much significance beyond its

existence.
▶ It can exist in any form.

▶ It does not have full meaning by itself.

Information: is a collection of related data that can give a full

meaning.
▶ Processed data that have an explicit meaning.

Knowledge: an appropriate collection of information.

▶ Found through many experience and much organized

information.
▶ Come through understanding patterns.
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Basic definitions cont.’…

Wisdom: collection of very deep knowledge.

Come through understanding principles.

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What is DB?
Database is a collection of related data. What is the d/n b/n
information?
Data is a collection of facts and figures that can be processed to
produce information.
Mostly data represents recordable facts.
Data aids in producing information, which is based on facts.
For example, if we have data about marks obtained by all students,
we can then conclude about toppers and average marks.
 Information : when data is processed and converted into a
meaningful and useful form, it is known as Information.
 Information is nothing but refined data
 Well organized data
 Information is data that have been put in to a meaningful &
Useful context.
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What is DB?
 Databases and database technology have had a major impact on the growing use
of computers.
 A database is a collection of related data. By data, we mean known facts that can
be recorded and that have contained meaning.
 Is a persistent, logically coherent collection of inherently meaningful data,
relevant to some aspects of the real world.
▶ Is an organized collection of data
▶ Collection of related data (logically coherent (Data items are related in a non-
arbitrary way ) ).
▶ Known facts that are recorded and that have a meaning.
• Represents some aspects of the real world in the production environment.

• Mainly built for a specific purpose.

E.g: Amazon DB, Social media DB, different governmental DB...

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Implicit properties Database

It represents some aspects of the real world.
It is a logically coherent collection of data.
 It is designed for specific purpose and intended users.
 It can be at varying size and complexity
 It can be created(generated) and maintained manually
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Database management system (DBMS)

A DBMS is a collection of programs that enables users to create
and maintain a database.
It is a general-purpose software system that facilitates the
creation, manipulation(operation) and maintenance of
databases.
Allows multiple users and programs to access and manipulate

the database concurrently.

Provides protection against unauthorized access and
manipulation. E.g
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DBMS Software>>Example
MySQL Database
MS- Access
Oracle Database
Microsoft SQL Server
File Maker
NoSQL
MS Fox Pro
DB2
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Simplified database system environment

Database system can be defined as the combination
of a Database and a DBMS.
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Functions/ Applications of DBMS

Defining a database involves specifying the data types(int,
bit,char,date,datetime,vchar…)structures,andconstraints(restricti
on) of the data to be stored in the database.
 The database definition or descriptive information is also
stored by the DBMS in the form of a database catalog or
dictionary; it is called meta-data.
 Constructing the database is the process of storing the data
on some storage medium that is controlled by the DBMS.
 Manipulating a database includes functions such as querying
the database to retrieve specific data, updating the database to
reflect changes in the mini-world, and generating reports from
the data.
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Functions/ Applications of DBMScont’…

Sharing a database allows multiple users and programs to
access the database simultaneously.
 An application program accesses the database by sending
queries or requests for data to the DBMS.
 Protection includes system protection against hardware or
software malfunction (or crashes) and security protection
against unauthorized or malicious access.
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Main Characteristics of the Database Approach

A number of characteristics distinguish the database approach
from the much older approach of writing customized programs
to access data stored in files.
In traditional file processing, each user defines and
implements the files needed for a specific software application
as part of programming the application.
 In the database approach, a single repository maintains data
that is defined once and then accessed by various users
repeatedly through queries, transactions, and application
programs.
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Main Characteristics of the Database Approach

The main characteristics of the database approach versus the
file-processing approach are the following:
A. Self-describing nature of a database system:
A DBMS catalog stores the description of a particular
database (e.g. data structures, types, and constraints)
The description is called meta-data.
This allows the DBMS software to work with different
database applications.
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Main Characteristics of the Database Approach

B. Insulation between programs and data:
 Called program-data independence.
 Allows changing data structures and storage organization without having
to change the DBMS access programs.
C. Data Abstraction:
 A data model is used to hide storage details and present the users with a
conceptual view of the database.
 Programs refer to the data model constructs rather than data storage details
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Main Characteristics of the Database Approach

D. Support of multiple views of the data:
 Each user may see a different view of the database, which
describes only the data of interest to that user.
E. Sharing of data and multi-user transaction processing:
 Allowing a set of concurrent users to retrieve from and to
update the database.
Concurrency control within the DBMS guarantees that each
transaction is correctly executed or aborted.
Recovery subsystem ensures each completed transaction has its
effect permanently recorded in the database
OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) is a major part of
database applications.
 This allows hundreds of concurrent transactions to execute per second.
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Main Characteristics of the Database Approach

 A modern DBMS has the following characteristics:
 Real-world entity: A modern DBMS is more realistic and uses real-world entities
to design its architecture. It uses the behavior and attributes too. For example, a
school database may use students as an entity and their age as an attribute.
 Relation-based tables: DBMS allows entities and relations among them to form
tables
 Isolation of data and application: A database system is entirely different than its
data. A database is an active entity, whereas data is said to be passive, on which
the database works and organizes.
 Less redundancy: DBMS follows the rules of normalization, which splits a
relation when any of its attributes is having redundancy in values.
 Consistency: Consistency is a state where every relation in a database remains
consistent. There exist methods and techniques, which can detect attempt of
leaving database in inconsistent state.
 Query Language: DBMS is equipped with query language, which makes it more
efficient to retrieve and manipulate data.
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Main Characteristics of the Database Approach

 ACID Properties: DBMS follows the concepts of Atomicity,
Consistency, Isolation, and Durability These concepts are applied on
transactions, which manipulate data in a database.
Multiuser and Concurrent Access: DBMS supports multi-user
environment and allows them to access and manipulate data in parallel
Multiple views: DBMS offers multiple views for different users.
Security: DBMS offers methods to impose constraints while entering
data into the database and retrieving the same at a later stage. DBMS
offers many different levels of security features, which enables
multiple users to have different views with different features.
Read more about ACID Properties
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Data Handling approaches

Data management passes through the different
levels of development along with the
development in technology and services.
Generally, there are three major
approaches/levels on how to manage data in the
database. These are:
A. Manual Approach
B. Traditional File Based Approach
C. Database Approach
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Data Handling approaches

A. Manual Data Handling approach
In the manual approach, data storage and retrieval follows the
primitive and traditional way of information handling where cards
and paper are used for the purpose.
The data storage and retrieval will be performed using human labor.
Files for as many event and objects as the organization are used to
store information.
Each of the files containing various kinds of information is labelled
and stored in one or more cabinets.
The cabinets could be kept in safe places for security purpose based
on the sensitivity of the information contained in it.
Insertion and retrieval is done by searching first for the right cabinet
then for the right the file then the information.
One could have an indexing system to facilitate access to the data.
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Data Handling approaches…

Limitations of the Manual approach
Prone to error
Difficult to update, retrieve, integrate
You have the data but it is difficult to compile the information
Limited to small size information
Cross referencing is difficult
An alternative approach of data handling is a computerized way of
dealing with the information.
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Data Handling approaches

B. Traditional File Based Data Handling approach
 File based systems were an early attempt to computerize the manual filing
system.
 This approach is the decentralized computerized data handling method.
 A collection of application programs perform services for the end-users.
 In such systems, every application program that provides service to end
users define and manage its own data
 Such systems have number of programs for each of the different applications
in the organization.
 Since every application defines and manages its own data, the system is
subjected to serious data duplication problem.
 File, in traditional file based approach, is a collection of records which
contains logically related data
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Data Handling approaches

Limitations of the Traditional File Based approach
 The limitations for the traditional file based data handling approach arise from two basic reasons.
1. Definition of the data is embedded(set in) in the application program which makes it difficult to
modify the database definition easily.
2. No control over the access and manipulation of the data beyond that imposed by the application
programs.
 Separation or Isolation of Data: Available information in one application may not be known. Data
Synchronization is done manually.
 Limited data sharing- every application maintains its own data.
 Lengthy development and maintenance time
 Duplication or redundancy of data (money and time cost and loss of data integrity)
 Data dependency on the application- data structure is embedded in the application; hence, a
change in the data structure needs to change the application as well.
 Incompatible file formats or data structures (e.g. C and COBOL) between different applications
and programs creating inconsistency and difficulty to process jointly.
 Fixed query processing which is defined during application development
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Data Handling approaches

C. Database Data Handling approach
The database approach emphasizes the integration and sharing of data
throughout the organization.
 Database is just a computerized record keeping system or a kind of electronic
filing cabinet.
 Database is a repository for collection of computerized data files.
 Database is a shared collection of logically related data and description of data
designed to meet the information needs of an organization. Since it is a shared
corporate resource, the database is integrated with minimum amount of or no
duplication.
 Database is a collection of logically related data where these logically related
data comprises entities, attributes, relationships, and business rules of an
organization’s information.
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Data Handling approaches

C. Database Data Handling approach…
 In addition to containing data required by an organization, database also
contains a description of the data which is known as Metadata‖ or Data
Dictionary or Systems Catalogue‖ or Data about Data‖ or sometimes Data
Directory.
 The purpose of a database is to store information and to allow users to
retrieve and update that information on demand.
 Unlike the traditional file based approach in database approach there is
program data independence.
 Each database application will perform the combination of:
Creating database
Reading,
Updating and
Deleting data.
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Database system and File System

What is File System?
A file system handles the way of reading and writing data to the
hard disk.
The file system is installed into the computer with the operating
system.
Operating systems such as Windows and Linux have their own file
system.
New Technology File System (NTFS) is the Windows file system.
Extended File System (Ext) is the Linux file system.
A file such as text file goes through the file system to store into the
hard disk. Similarly, the file is read via the file system.
 Usually, there is a possibility of data redundancy in a file system
because there can be duplicate data.
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The following are the differences between DBMS and File System:
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Components of Database System

 There are four components in any database system:
1) Data,
2) Hardware,
3) Software
4) users and Designers of database
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Components of Database System cont’…

Data: The actual data stored in the database system may be
stored as a single database or distributed in many distinct files
and treated as one.
Hardware: This portion of the system consists of secondary
storage media (disks, tapes and optical media) that are used to
hold the stored data and associated device controllers (hard disk
controller, etc.); and the processor(s) and associated main
memory that are used to support the execution of the database
system software.
Software: This is the software, Database Management System
(DBMS) that is responsible for the overall management of
communications between the user and the database.
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Roles in Database Design & Development

As people are one of the components in DBS environment, there are
group of roles played by different stakeholders of the designing and
operation of a database system.
1. Data Administrator (DA): is responsible on management of data
resources.
Involves in database planning, development, maintenance of
standards policies and procedures at the conceptual and logical
design phases.
2. Database Administrator (DBA): is a person that is responsible
for all technical operations or details of the database system.
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Database Administrator (DBA) cont…

Responsible to oversee, control and manage the database
resources (the database itself, the DBMS and other related
software)
Authorizing access to the database
Coordinating and monitoring the use of the database
Responsible for determining and acquiring hardware and
software resources
Accountable for problems like poor security, poor
performance of the system
 Involves in all steps of database development
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Functions of the DBA

The functions of the DBA include the following
Defining the conceptual schema
Defining the internal schema
Liaising(liniking) with users
Defining security and integrity rules
Defining backup and recovery procedures
Monitoring performance and responding to changing
requirements
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3. Database Designer (DBD)

Identifies the data to be stored and choose the appropriate
structures to represent and store the data.
 Should understand the user requirement and should choose how
the user views the database.
 Involve on the design phase before the implementation of the
database system. We have two distinctions of database designers,
one involving in the logical and conceptual design and another
involving in physical design.
1. Logical and Conceptual DBD
2. Physical DBD
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[Link] and Conceptual DBD

 Identifies data (entity, attributes and relationship) relevant to
the organization
 Identifies constraints on each data
Understand data and business rules in the organization
 Sees the database independent of any data model at conceptual
level and consider one specific data model at logical design
phase.
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2. Physical DBD
Take logical design specification as input and decide how it
should be physically realized
 Map the logical data model on the specified DBMS with
respect to tables and integrity constraints. (DBMS dependent
designing)
Select specific storage structure and access path to the database
Design security measures required on the database
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4. Application Programmer and Systems Analyst

 The application programmer implements these specifications as
programs; code, test, debug, document and maintain the
application program.
Determines the interface on how to retrieve, insert, update and
delete data in the database.
The application could use any high-level programming
language according to the availability, the facility and the
required service.
Application programmers who are responsible for writing
application programs that use the database using some
programming language such as COBOL, Pascal, or a
programming language built-in to the DBMS
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5. End-users
These are those people who are engaged on processing different
types of operations on the database system. Users are workers,
whose job requires accessing the database frequently for various
purpose. There are different group of users in this category.
Naïve Users, Sophisticated Users and Casual Users
[Link]ïve Users:
 Sizable proportion of users

 Unaware of the DBMS

Only access the database based on their access level and
demand
Use standard and pre-specified types of queries.
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B. Sophisticated Users
 Are users familiar with the structure of the Database and facilities of the
DBMS.
 Have complex requirements
 Have higher level queries
 Are most of the time engineers, scientists, business analysts, etc

[Link] Users
 Users who access the database occasionally.
 Need different information from the database each time.
 Use sophisticated database queries to satisfy their needs.
 Are most of the time middle to high level managers
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Components of Database System …

These users can be again classified as “Actors on the Scene”
and “Workers behind the Scene”.
Users may be divided into two
1. Those who actually use and control the database content,
and those who design, develop and maintain database
applications or identify the people whose jobs involve the
day-to-day use of a large database; we call them (called
“Actors on the Scene”), and
2. Those who design and develop the DBMS software and
related tools, and the computer systems operators (called
“Workers Behind the Scene”).
Note: Technical individuals such as designers, analysts,
programmers, tool developers and sometimes database
administrators can sometimes work both at the back and front
end.
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Components of Database System …

Database User…
Actors on the scene
Data Administrator
Database Administrator
Database Designer
End Users
Workers behind the Scene
DBMS designers and implementers
Tool Developers:
Operators and Maintenance Personnel
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Actors behind the scene

 Operators and maintenance personnel
 Responsible for actual running and maintenance
of hardware and software
 Tool developers
 Persons who design and implement tools
(software package )
 DBMS designers and programmers
 Designs and implement DBMS modules &
interfaces as a package.
What is our the responsibly Actors on the scene or Actors behind the scene?
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Advantages of DBMS
 Controlling Redundancy: because the data is stored in a set of related
tables, data items do not need to be duplicated in multiple locations.
 Better Security: the DBA defines authorization procedures to ensure that
only legitimate users can access the database and can allow different users to
have different levels of access
 Increased programmer productivity: programmers do not have to create
the underlining file structure for the database, so they can concentrate on
logical design
 Data Independence: systems that interact with a DBMS are relatively
independent of how the physical data is maintained
 Restricting Unauthorized Access: When multiple users share a large
database, it is likely that most users will not be authorized to access all
information in the database.
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Advantages of DBMS
 Stronger Standards: effective database administration helps ensure that standards
for data names, formats, and documentation are followed uniformly throughout the
organization
 Enterprise-wide application-database administrator(DBA): (DBA) typically
manages a database management system (DBMS). The DBA assesses overall
requirements and maintains the database for the benefit of the entire organization
rather than a single department or user.
 Flexible data sharing: Data can be shared across the enterprise, allowing more
users to view the same information in different ways
 Better support for client/server systems: In a client/server system, processing is
distributed throughout an organization. Client/server systems require the power and
flexibility of database design.
 Scalability: Scalability means that a system can be expanded, modified, or
downsized easily to meet the rapidly changing needs of a business enterprise. Also
known as extensibility.
 Providing Storage Structures and Search Techniques for Efficient Query
Processing
 Providing Backup and Recovery: A DBMS must provide facilities for recovering
from hardware or software failures.
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Disadvantages of DBMS
 High Cost of DBMS:A DBMS is a large and sophisticated piece of software ,it is
expensive to purchase or lease.
 Higher hardware cost: Additional memory and processing power may be
required to run the DBMS, resulting in need to upgrade hardware.
 Higher programming cost: A DBMS is complex tool with many features
,programmer’s should have thorough knowledge to use the system, for this
organization has to pay extra for expertise.
 High conversion cost: different formats are used in files, when an organization
converts to a database system, data has to be removed from files and loads into the
database, this may be difficult and time consuming.
 Increased vulnerability: As we know that in DBMS, all the files are stored in
single database so chances of database failure become more. Any accidental
failure of component may cause loss of valuable data.
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THANK YOU

END OF CHAPTER ONE

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Quiz for Chapter One

1. What are the responsibilities of the Database administrator
and the database designers?
2. What are the different Actors on the Scene and Actors
behind the Scene?
3. What is the data, information, database, DBMS and database
system and what are their relation between them?
4. Discuss the differences between database systems and
traditional file systems?
5. Write at least 5 advantage of DBMS?