Advantages of Database Management System (DBMS)

Database Management System

It is a setoff software programs that allows users to create, edit and update data in database files, and store and retrieve data from those database files.

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Advantages of Database Management System

·        Controlling the data redundancy

The data redundancy, storing the data multiple times leans to several problems.

First, storage space is wasted when the same data is stored repeatedly.

Second, files that represent the same data may become inconsistent. This may happen because an update is applied to some of the files but not to others. Update is applied to some of the files but not to others.

Most DBMS provide a facilities for controlling the data redundancy using normalization and keys concepts.

·        Restricting unauthorized access

When multiple users access a database therefore some users will not be authorized to access all information in the database.

A DBMS should provide a security and authorization subsystem, which the Data Base Administrator (DBA) specify the restrictions. The DBMS should then enforce these restrictions automatically. For example, the Banking data are often considered confidential, and hence only authorized persons are allowed to access such data.

·        Providing backup and Recovery

A DBMS must provide facilities for recovering from hardware or software. The backup and recovery subsystem of DBMS is responsible for recovery.

For example, if the computer system fails in the middle of a complex update program, the recovery subsystem is responsible and makes sure that the database is restored to the state it was in before the program started executing.

Alternatively, the recovery subsystems ensure that the program is resumed from the point at which it was interrupted so that its full effect is recorded in the database.

·        Providing Multiple Users Interfaces

Because many types of users with varying levels of technical knowledge use a database, a DBMS should provide a variety of user interfaces. These includes query languages for casual users. Programming language interfaces for application programmers, forms and command codes for parameteric users and graphical user interfaces for standalone users.

·        Inforcing Integrity constraints

Data integrity means that the data contained in the both accurate and consistent. Integrity means constraints, which are consistency rules that the database system should not violate.

Most database application have certain integrity constraints that hold for the data. A DBMS should provide capabilities for defining and enforcing these constraints. The simplest type of integrity constraint specifying a datatype for each data item.

·        Efficient data access

DBMS utilizes a variety of sophisticated techniques to store and retrieve data efficiently. This feature is especially important if the data is stored on external storage devices.

·        Improved the data sharing

Since, database system is centralized repository of data belonging to the entire organization, it can be shared by all authorized users. Existing application program can share the data in the database.

Furthermore, new application programs can be developed on the existing data in the database to share the same data and add only that data that is not concurrently stored. Therefore, more users and applications can share more of the data.

·        Improved security

Database security is the protection of database from unauthorized users. The database administrator (DBA) ensures the proper access procedure is followed, including proper authentication schemes for access to the DBMS and additional checks before permitting access to sensitive data. A data can define user names and passwords to identify people authorized to use the database.

·        Improved data consistency

If the redundancy is removed or controlled, chances of having in consistence data is also removed and controlled. In database system, such inconsistencies are avoided to some extent by making them know to DBMS. DBMS ensures that any change made to either of the two entries in the database is automatically applied to the other one as well. This process is known as propagating updates.

·        Program data Independence

In the database environment, it allows for changes at one level of the database without affecting other levels. These changes are absorbed by mapping between the levels with the database approach, metadata are stored in a central location called repository. This property of the data systems allows an organization’s data to change without changing the application programs that process the data.

·        Improved data quality

The database system provides a number of tools and processes to improve the data quality.

·        Providing persistent storage for program objects and data structures

Database can be used to provide persistent storage for program objects and data structures. This is one of the main reasons for object oriented database systems. The persistent storage of program objects and data structures are an important function of database system.

·        Representing complex relationships among data

A database may include numerous varieties of data that are interrelated in many ways. A DBMS must have the capabilities to represents a variety of complex relationships among the data as well as to retrieve and update data easily and efficiently.

·        Permitting inferencing and actions using rules

Some database system provide capabilities for defining deduction rules for inferencing new information from the stored database facts such systems are called deductive database systems. More powerful functionality is provide active rules that can automatically initiate actions when certain events and condition occur.

·        Availability of up-to-date information to all users

A DBMS makes the database available to all users. As soon as one user’s update is applied to the database, all other users can immediately see this update. This availability of up-to-date information is essential for many transaction processing applications, such as reservation systems, banking databases and it is make possible by the concurrency control and recovery subsystems of a DBMS.

·        Flexibility

It may be necessary to change the structure of a database as requirements changes. Modern DBMSs allows certain types of evolutionary changes to the structure of the database without affecting the stored data and the existing application programs.

·        Increased concurrency

DBMSs manage concurrent database access and prevents the problem of loss of information or loss of integrity.

·        Balance of conflicting requirements

The DBA resolves the conflicting requirements of various users and applications. A DBA can structure the system to provide an overall service that is the best for the organization. A DBA can choose the best file structure and access methods to get optimal performance for the response critical operations which permitting less critical applications to continue to use the database.