Database Management Systems
To the computer, a database looks like one or more
files. In order for the data in the database to be
read, changed, added, or removed, a software
program must access it. Many software
applications have this ability: iTunes can read its
database to give you a listing of its songs (and play
the songs); your mobile-phone software can
interact with your list of contacts. But what about
applications to create or manage a database? What
software can you use to create a database, change a
database’s structure, or simply do analysis? That is
the purpose of a category of software applications
called database management systems (DBMS).
DBMS packages generally provide an
interface to view and change the design of the
database, create queries, and develop reports. Most
of these packages are designed to work with a
specific type of database, but generally are compatible with a wide range of databases.
For example, Apache OpenOffice.org Base (see screen shot) can be used to create, modify, and
analyze databases in open-database (ODB) format. Microsoft’s Access DBMS is used to work with
databases in its own Microsoft Access Database format. Both Access and Base have the ability to read and
write to other database formats as well.
Microsoft Access and Open Office Base are examples of personal database-management systems.
These systems are primarily used to develop and analyze single-user databases. These databases are not
meant to be shared across a network or the Internet, but are instead installed on a particular device and work
with a single user at a time.