DBMS is a Database Management System. As the name suggests, it is a system used for the management of databases. A database is a collection of data belonging to an organization. For example, a company database might include data related to its Employees, Departments, Payroll, etc.
A Database Management System is a general purpose software system which allows the users to construct the database, analyze the data, maintain the data in the database, share the database among various users and application and much more. In short, DBMS allows us to create, define and manipulate the database. Examples of DBMS: Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, MySQL, Oracle, IBM DB2, etc.
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In the above diagram, there are 4 components: Queries, DBMS, Operating System and Database.
The queries are the user's or application's request to get some data from the database or modify some data in the database. The queries are not directly communicated to the database. DBMS acts as an intermediate agent which communicates the queries to the database via the operating system.
Benefits of using DBMS over the traditional file management systems:
- A DBMS allow us to maintain a centralized repository of data, the data is integrated. In case of traditional file management system, the data is not that integrated. The data may be stored in Hierarchical Files.
- The management of data is much more easier and convenient in the DBMS.
- The data can be accessed across multiple locations at the same time and concurrency conflicts can be effectively handled in DBMS.
- Traditional files have unnecessary redundant data, while the redundant data is reduced in the DBMS due to centralized storage and access control.
- The update, deletion and retrieval of data is much faster in DBMS. Also, the Database structure can be easily altered. In case of File System, the alteration of the structure is not that easy.