What is database management software? Database Management Software (DBMS) is a system application used to store, manipulate, and manage data, such as format, names of fields, and record and file structures in a database environment. To put it simply, a DBMS is what connects a database and the database administrator. DBMS is used to translate simple instructions provided by the DBA to complex SQL queries that the database can understand.
Most Popular Database Management Software
Since storage mechanisms and formats of a database management software can be changed without necessarily altering the entire application within the database, most DBMS have data independence. Some of the most popular DBMS software or free database management tools include MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access DBMS, Oracle, IBM DB2, and FoxPro.
For example, MySQL, a standard DBMS tool and a free business database software, is a high-performance database software that enables organizations to build scalable database applications. Similarly, some of the main features of FoxPro include creating, adding, editing, and removing information from a database.
Main Features of a Database Management Software
Some of the main features of database management software include;
Effortless Maintenance of Large Databases
Most of the data belonging to an organization are stored within large databases. Therefore, a database management software should have the capability to handle such data without causing problems for the database administrator. This includes features that make it easy to narrow down searches and even features that can filter data depending on the user’s requirements. For example, if the database contains sales volumes from the year 1996, the software should have a feature that can help the DBA narrow it down to a particular year if they are looking for sales information.
Low Repetition & Redundancy
When several users are working on one database simultaneously, there’s a good chance of data duplication. A good DBMS should prevent this from happening by creating a single data repository that multiple users can access. It should also allow for easy data mapping, making the work of database administrators much easier since they can trace and connect bits of information they may be looking for.
Enhanced Security
Data security is always a concern for every organization and its stakeholders. With data increasingly becoming valuable, there has never been such an intensive need to ensure that organizations’ data is secure. A database management software should only allow access to the database administrator and the department head or any other senior person, depending on the organization’s structure. Otherwise, any other person looking to access the database should have authority from these two people. Only these people can make any changes to the database, as the rest are restricted by firewalls, passcodes, and other security measures.
Multi-User Environment Support
This refers to the ability of the database to be accessed by different people at the same time. A good database should be able to support that without lagging or without any problems. As long as the users have the authority to access the database, they should do so without any hitches.
It should also support several views of the data. A view is a subsection of a distinct and dedicated database to specific operators of the system. Since databases are typically accessed by multiple users simultaneously, these users may need different database views. For example, User 1 may want to print a bank statement, while User2 would only wish to check the bank balance. Even though both of them are querying the same database, they will be presented with different views.
Improved File Consistency
With the right database management software, organizations should be able to create a standardized way to use files that will ensure the consistency of data with other systems and applications. It is critical for a company to manipulate and streamline advanced data management systems. The application of an advanced database system allows using the same rules to all the data throughout the organization.
Applications of Database Management Software
Database Management Software can be used across different verticals in different fields. Below are some of the applications of DBMS in different sectors.
- Banking: DBMS are used in the banking sector to store client information and record their account activities. For example, any deposits, withdrawals, payments, and loans by a particular client will all be stored within the same database.
- Airlines: DBMS makes it easy to record flight bookings and scheduling information. Through DBMS, airline customers will always have their flights sorted out without necessarily having to physically record on the calendar or on a register.
- Schools & Universities: Database Management Software is used by schools to store information on every student as well as their activities within the school. For example, you can easily find the courses they have registered for and even be able to track their grades.
- Telecommunication: It helps to keep call records, monthly bills, maintaining balances, and other things.
- Finance: In the field of finance, DBMS is used to store information about stock and also sales and purchases of financial instruments like stocks and bonds. It can also show trends in the stock market, which can always be helpful to investors looking to trade.
- HR Management: Every HR department uses DBMS to store information about employees as well as their salaries, bonuses, and deduction, as well as in the generation of paychecks.
- Manufacturing: It is used for the management of the supply chain and for tracking the production of items. It is also a critical tool in the maintenance of inventory status in warehouses.
Database Management Software is here to make the work of database administrators a hundred times easier. Without it, organizations would have to employ more people to handle the management of the database, and it still wouldn’t be as efficient and time-saving. Thus, it helps dozens of organizations to save on unnecessary costs while also improving on quality.
