D426 - Data Management Foundations - zyBook
Terms & Definitions Questions and Correct
Answers
Data
Numeric, textual, visual, or audio information that describes real-world systems.
Analog
Historically, data was mostly _______________, encoded as continuous variations on various
physical media.
Digital
Format data is mostly in today, encoded as zeros and ones on electronic and magnetic media.
Database
A collection of data in a structured format. In principle, they can be stored on paper or even clay
tablets. In practice, however, modern versions are invariably stored on computers.
Database system / database management system / DBMS
Software that reads and writes data in a database. Ensures data is secure, internally consistent,
and available at all times. These functions are challenging for large databases with many users,
so these systems are complex.
Query language
A specialized programming language, designed specifically for database systems.
Database application
,Software that helps business users interact with database systems.
Database administrator
Person who is responsible for securing the database system against unauthorized users. They
enforce procedures for user access and database system availability.
Database designer
Person who determines the format of each data element and the overall database structure. They
must balance several priorities, including storage, response time, and support for rules that
govern the data. Since these priorities often conflict, database design is technically challenging.
Database programmer
Person who develops computer programs that utilize a database.
Database user
Person who is a consumer of data in a database. They request, update, or use stored data to
generate reports or information. They also usually access the database via applications but can
also submit queries directly to the database system.
Transaction
A group of queries that must be either completed or rejected as a whole. Execution of some, but
not all, queries results in inconsistent or incorrect data.
Architecture
Describes the internal components and the relationships between components of a database
system.
,Query processor
Interprets queries, creates a plan to modify the database or retrieve data, and returns query results
to the application.
Query optimization
The query processor performs this to ensure the most efficient instructions are executed on the
data.
Storage manager
Translates the query processor instructions into low-level file-system commands that modify or
retrieve data.
Indexes
Used by the storage manager to quickly locate data.
Transaction manager
Ensures transactions are properly executed.
Log
A file containing a complete record of all inserts, updates, and deletes processed by the database.
Catalog / data dictionary
A directory of tables, columns, indexes, and other database objects.
Relational database
Stores data in tables, columns, and rows, similar to a spreadsheet.
, SQL
Stands for Structured Query Language and includes statements that read and write data, create
and delete tables, and administer the database system.
Big data
The growth of the internet in the 1990s generated massive volumes of online data, often with
poorly structured or missing information.
NoSQL
The newer non-relational systems, stands for 'not only SQL', and are optimized for big data.
Open source
Software that anyone can inspect, copy, and modify with no licensing fee.
Query
A command for a database that typically inserts new data, retrieves data, updates data, or deletes
data from a database.
Query language
A computer programming language for writing database queries.
CRUD
What the four common queries are sometimes referred to as, an acronym for Create, Read,
Update, and Delete data operations.
Structured Query Language / SQL
Terms & Definitions Questions and Correct
Answers
Data
Numeric, textual, visual, or audio information that describes real-world systems.
Analog
Historically, data was mostly _______________, encoded as continuous variations on various
physical media.
Digital
Format data is mostly in today, encoded as zeros and ones on electronic and magnetic media.
Database
A collection of data in a structured format. In principle, they can be stored on paper or even clay
tablets. In practice, however, modern versions are invariably stored on computers.
Database system / database management system / DBMS
Software that reads and writes data in a database. Ensures data is secure, internally consistent,
and available at all times. These functions are challenging for large databases with many users,
so these systems are complex.
Query language
A specialized programming language, designed specifically for database systems.
Database application
,Software that helps business users interact with database systems.
Database administrator
Person who is responsible for securing the database system against unauthorized users. They
enforce procedures for user access and database system availability.
Database designer
Person who determines the format of each data element and the overall database structure. They
must balance several priorities, including storage, response time, and support for rules that
govern the data. Since these priorities often conflict, database design is technically challenging.
Database programmer
Person who develops computer programs that utilize a database.
Database user
Person who is a consumer of data in a database. They request, update, or use stored data to
generate reports or information. They also usually access the database via applications but can
also submit queries directly to the database system.
Transaction
A group of queries that must be either completed or rejected as a whole. Execution of some, but
not all, queries results in inconsistent or incorrect data.
Architecture
Describes the internal components and the relationships between components of a database
system.
,Query processor
Interprets queries, creates a plan to modify the database or retrieve data, and returns query results
to the application.
Query optimization
The query processor performs this to ensure the most efficient instructions are executed on the
data.
Storage manager
Translates the query processor instructions into low-level file-system commands that modify or
retrieve data.
Indexes
Used by the storage manager to quickly locate data.
Transaction manager
Ensures transactions are properly executed.
Log
A file containing a complete record of all inserts, updates, and deletes processed by the database.
Catalog / data dictionary
A directory of tables, columns, indexes, and other database objects.
Relational database
Stores data in tables, columns, and rows, similar to a spreadsheet.
, SQL
Stands for Structured Query Language and includes statements that read and write data, create
and delete tables, and administer the database system.
Big data
The growth of the internet in the 1990s generated massive volumes of online data, often with
poorly structured or missing information.
NoSQL
The newer non-relational systems, stands for 'not only SQL', and are optimized for big data.
Open source
Software that anyone can inspect, copy, and modify with no licensing fee.
Query
A command for a database that typically inserts new data, retrieves data, updates data, or deletes
data from a database.
Query language
A computer programming language for writing database queries.
CRUD
What the four common queries are sometimes referred to as, an acronym for Create, Read,
Update, and Delete data operations.
Structured Query Language / SQL
