DATABASE

Databases, Data, and Information

Database

• Collection of data organized in a manner that allows access, retrieval, and use of that data

Data

• Collection of unprocessed items

• Text

• Numbers

• Images

• Audio

• Video

Information

• Processed data

• Documents

• Audio

• Images

• Video

Database software, often called a database management system(DBMS), allows users to:

• Create a computerized database
• Add, modify, and delete data
• Sort and retrieve data
• Create forms and reports from the data

Valuable information should have the following characteristics:

• Accurate
• Verifiable
• Timely
• Organized
• Accessible
• Useful
• Cost-effective

The Hierarchy of Data

•

A characteris one byte

–Numbers, letters, space, 

punctuation marks, or 

other symbols

•A fieldis a combination 

of one or more related 

characters

–Field name

–Field size

–Data type

Common data types include:

• Text
• Numeric
• AutoNumber
• Currency
• Date
• Memo
• Yes/No
• Hyperlink
• Object
• Attachment