ELEMENTS OF DATABASE

ENVIRONMENT
4 PRIMARY ELEMENTS OF DATABASE

• Users

• Database Management System

• Database Administrator

• Physical Database
 USERS
2 Ways on how to Access the Database
1. Via User Application Programs
– These programs will send data access requests
(calls) to the DBMS, which validates the requests
and retrieves data for processing.
2. Via Direct Query
– Requires no formal user program
– The DBMS has a built-in query facility that allows
authorized users to process data independent of
professional programmers.
– This feature has been an attractive incentive for
users to adopt the database approach.
DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
objective of DBMS:

- to provide a controlled environment to assist

or prevent user access to the database
- to efficiently manage the data resources.
 FEATURES OF DBMS

• Program Development

• Backup and Recovery

• Database Usage Reporting

• Database Access
Program Development
- DBMS contains application development
software.

- Both programmers and end users may employ

this feature to create applications to access
the database.
Backup and Recovery
- During processing, the DBMS periodically
makes backup copies of the physical database.

- In the event of a disaster, the DBMS can

recover an earlier version that is known to be
correct.
Database Usage Reporting
- This feature captures statistics on:
- What data are being used?
- When they are used?
- Who uses them?

- The Database Administrator (DBA) uses this

information to assign user authorization and
to maintain the database.
Database Access
- The most important feature of a DBMS is to
permit AUTHORIZED USER ACCESS to the
database.

- 3 modules that facilitate this task

- Data Definition Language
- Data Manipulation Language
- Query Language
Data Definition Language (DDL)
- Is a programming language used to define the
physical database to the DBMS
- The definition includes: name and
relationship of all data elements, records, and
files that constitute the database
- DDL defines the database on 3 levels:
- Internal View
- Conceptual View (Schema)
- User View (Subschema)
INTERNAL VIEW (lowest representation)
-presents the physical arrangement of records in the
database. (structure of records, the linkages between them,
the physical arrangement and sequence of records in a file).

CONCEPTUAL VIEW
-represents the database logically and abstractly rather than
the way it is physically stored.

USER VIEW
-defines how a particular user sees the portion of the
database that he or she is authorized to access.
Data Manipulation Language (DML)
- Is the propriety programming language that a
particular DBMS uses to retrieve, process, and
store data.
Query Language
- Permits end users and professional
programmers to access data in the database
directly without the need for conventional
programs.
 DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR
- Responsible for managing the database
resources.

- The duties of DBA fall into the following areas:

- Database planning
- Database design
- Database implementation
- Database operation and maintenance
- Database change and growth
 DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR
- Another important function of the DBA is the
creation of the DATA DICTIONARY.

Data Dictionary
- describes every data element in the database
- this enables all users and programmers to
share common view of the data resource and
greatly facilitates the analysis of user needs.
 PHYSICAL DATABASE
- Lowest level of the database.
- At the physical level, database is a collection
of records and files.
- Consists of magnetic spots and magnetic
disks.
- The other level of the database are abstract
representation of the physical level.