Topic 8: Information Handling Software (databases)

What is a database?

Paper based databases

• A database is a collection of data or information which is held together in an organised or logical way

Tables

• Databases store data or information in tables
• The tables allow you to see all of the records stored in the database. Tables can store many records, from a few dozen for a small database up to millions for a large company database

Records

• Each table can store a great deal of data
• Each table can contain lots of records
• A record is all of the data or information about one person or one thing

Fields

• Each table contains lots of records
• A record is made up of lots of individual pieces of information e.g. first name, last name, address etc..
• Each of these individual pieces of information in a record is called a field
• A field is one piece of data or information about a person or thing

Updating, deleting and searching records

• Update- change the data to bring it up to date
• Delete- remove data no longer needed
• Sorting- into an order i.e. alphabetically or by number into ascending or descending order
• Search- look for specific records that match certain criteria e.g. list the names of all students in Year 11

Data types

• Alphanumerical…