Database Management System
A software program for building and maintaining databases is called a database management system (DBMS). End users can add, save, read, edit, and remove data from a database with the help of a database management system (DBMS). Additionally, it oversees database concurrency, security, and data integrity.
The most common kind of data management platform, the DBMS basically acts as an interface between databases and users or application programs, guaranteeing that data is always arranged and accessible.
What does a DBMS do?
Data is maintained by a DBMS. The database engine makes it possible to access, lock, and change data, while the database schema establishes the logical organization of the database. Data integrity, security, concurrency, and consistent data administration practices are all facilitated by these three fundamental data components.
Some common functions that a DBMS performs
Administration Tasks
Many common database administration tasks are supported by a DBMS, such as change management, security, backup and recovery, performance monitoring and tuning, and most database management systems take position to manage automated rollbacks and restarts, as well as logging and auditing of database and application activity.
Security
By assuring that data is kept in tables, rows, and columns, a DBMS offers effective data storage and retrieval.
Concurrency control
A DBMS ensures regulated transaction execution to avoid data corruption or inconsistency in conditions where multiple users access and update the database at the same time.
Data manipulation
By allowing users to add, edit, remove, and modify data inside a database, database management systems provide data consistency and integrity.
Data independence
Both logical and physical data independence are provided by a DBMS that protects users and applications from seeking to know where data is kept or from worrying about modifications to the data's physical structure. Changes to the database won't require developers to modify their applications as long as programs utilize the database's application programming interface, which is provided by the DBMS.
Back up and Recovery
By generating backup copies, a DBMS makes backup and recovery choices easier and allows data to be restored to a consistent form. This guards against data loss from unplanned occurrences, software bugs, and hardware malfunctions. For defining, safety precautions, and accessing data, relational database management systems—the most popular kind of DBMS—use structured query language (API), a common programming language.
Advantages or benefits of using a DBMS
1. Data integrity and concurrency
The ability to manage data integrity while allowing users and application programmers to access and use the same data simultaneously is one of the main benefits of utilizing a database management system (DBMS). Instead of making new versions of the same data stored in new files for each new application, data is more securely stored and maintained when shared using a database management system (DBMS).
2. Data sharing and redundancy
A DBMS makes it possible for numerous users and apps to share information effectively. Data redundancy, which usually arises when the same data is stored unnecessarily in several places, is also decreased by its centralized storage capability.
3. Logical and structural organization of data
A database management system (DBMS) allows database administrators to force a structured, logical arrangement on the data. Due to its optimization for dealing with huge amounts of data, it provides economies of scale.
4. Data backup and recovery
Because a DBMS manages backup and recovery automatically, users are saved the trouble of regularly backing up data. In the event of a server crash or other system issue, a DBMS returns a database to its basic configuration.
5. Multiple views
Multiple views of a single database schema can also be provided by a DBMS. A view specifies what information the user can see and how. Between the physical schema, which describes the files, indexes, and other physical methods the database utilizes, and the conceptual schema, which specifies the logical structure of the database, the DBMS offers a degree of abstraction.
Disadvantages or drawbacks of DBMS
1. High investment and maintenance costs
The cost of the hardware, software, and staff needed to operate an enterprise DBMS, like SQL Server, Oracle, or IBM Db2, is likely the single largest disadvantage. Large disk arrays for data storage and a high-end server with a sizable quantity of memory installed typically make up the hardware. The software consists of the costly DBMS itself, together with tools for testing and programming and for DBAs to facilitate administration, tuning, and management. Additionally, a DBMS has yearly maintenance fees that raise the total investment for a business.
2. Complexity
Because DBMS software is complicated, it takes extensive knowledge to set up and maintain correctly. However, the DBMS communicates with a wide range of other IT components, including networking software, programming languages, operating systems, and transaction processing systems. It can be challenging to ensure the correct design and effectiveness of such a complex setup, which may result in system outages or performance lag.
3. Expertise requirement
If you want to use a database management system (DBMS), you will need to hire a DBA and staff, teach developers on how to use the DBMS, and perhaps hire more systems programmers to oversee the installation and integrate the DBMS into the IT infrastructure.
4. Complexity
Because DBMS software is complicated, it takes extensive knowledge to set up and maintain correctly. However, the DBMS communicates with a wide range of other IT components, including networking software, programming languages, operating systems, and transaction processing systems. It can be challenging to ensure the correct design and effectiveness of such a complex setup, which may result in system outages or performance delays.
5. Security vulnerabilities
Because a DBMS is centralized, any issues with one component could cause the entire system to break down or even shut down, increasing security concerns. This is a significant disadvantage for businesses that depend entirely on databases.
The cloud computing model can help reduce some of the administrative burden and expense associated with maintaining enterprise database systems. For instance, hardware that can be shared by cloud users is installed and maintained by the cloud service provider (CSP). Furthermore, depending on usage requirements, storage, memory, and other resources can be scaled up or down as needed. The CSP takes on basic DBA duties like patching and basic backups. As a result, implementing certain databases in the cloud rather than on-premises may be simpler and less expensive.
