Database management is a system of managing the information that a company needs to run its business operations. It includes data storage and distribution to application programs and users, modifying it as necessary and monitoring the changes in the data and preventing it from becoming damaged by unexpected failures. It is a part of the overall infrastructure of a business that aids in decision-making, corporate growth, and compliance with laws such as the GDPR and California Consumer Privacy Act.
The first database systems were developed in the 1960s by Charles Bachman, IBM and others. They developed into information management systems (IMS), which allowed massive amounts of data to be stored and retrieved for a range of purposes. From calculating inventory to aiding complex financial accounting functions and human resource functions.
A database is a set of tables which organize data in accordance with the specific scheme, for example one-to many relationships. It utilizes primary keys to identify records, and allow cross-references between tables. Each table contains a number of fields, called attributes, that represent facts about the entities that comprise the data. The most well-known type of database currently is a relational model designed by E. F. “Ted” Codd at IBM in the 1970s. This model is based upon normalizing the data, making it easier to use. It is also simpler to update data because it does not require changing many sections of the databases.
Most DBMSs can support multiple database types by providing different levels of internal and external organization. The internal level concerns the cost, scalability, and other operational issues like the physical layout of the database. The external level is the representation of the database on user interfaces and applications. It could comprise a combination of various external views (based on the various data models) and can also include virtual tables which are generated using generic data to improve performance.