Elements of Database Environment
Building a database system requires a modern database environment. Modern database environments require different components. The following shows the major components of a modern database environment and their interrelationships.
(i) Computer Aided Software Engineering Tools -CASE Tools: A type of software tools, which automatically help the system development process. Case tools are used in database design and application programming.
(ii) Repository: It is a central knowledge repository, which contains data descriptions, data relationships, forms and report formats and other components of the system. Various components of database management system like other components of information system are stored in this repository.
(iii) Database Management System: A database management system is a set of software used to create, modify, store, control and manage databases. Databases and repositories can be created, maintained, and controlled, usually through commercial software.
(iv) Database: A database is usually composed of one or more interrelated files. A large amount of data of various types is stored in the database. Different users of an organization may need different information, the database is organized logically and organized to get the desired information easily. Keeping databases and repositories separate is very important. Repository contains description of data and database contains occurrences of data.
(v) Application Program : The program used for specific tasks of the computer is called application program. In a database environment, application programs are used to deliver data or information from the database to the user or to maintain the user's interaction with the database.
(vi) User Interface: The interaction of system components with the user is called user interface. Languages, menus, and other facilities are interdependent with users and system components, such as case tools, application programs, DBMS, and repositories.
(vii) Database User: Based on skills DBMS users can be divided as follows, viz
- End User
- System Developer
- Application Programmer
- Database Administrator.
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