1, A database is an integrated collection of logically related records or files consolidated into a common pool that provides data for one or multiple uses.
A file is a package of information with a name attached to it.
2, Databases are basically meant to fragment data into relations store then so that conditioned retrieval is fast and easy.
A file is just for mas storage for future use. Here the conditioned retrieval is not a significant factor.
3, To handle small data sets, file is more efficient than database; that is, consider the stats below,