What is a
database?
A database is a collection of organized data where the data is stored
and categorized in order to provide efficiency when extracting the data. It is
basically data stored systematically which can be accessed, managed and updated
when needed.
There are two major types of databases, categorized into manual database
or electronic database. A manual database is operated by hands, with data
stored in hard-copy form with no use of computer. These kinds of databases are
tiring and have more percentage in error because of the inconstancy of the
human mind. However, databases like this require no electrical power and saves
cost in energy usage.
An electrical database is done by computers. It is run by a system which
controls the database, managing the data in it. Electrical databases like these
provide accurate and updated information due to computer programs designed to
work for us. However, it requires a 24/7 electrical supply which will add quite
an amount of running cost to the bill.
The electronic database is made out of quite a number of components.
These components rely on one another in order to function. Fields, the columns of a table are inserted,
followed by records, which are rows of data which consists of a single value
from each field. In result, a table, the combination of both records and
fields, is created where a series of tables result to a database.
Queries are also one of the components in a database, where it is used
to retrieve specific data from tables using link and connection to the data
searched, and creates a report by combining all the data into one database
sheet. Forms are also used to enforce the input of data in a database, by
creating an interface with fields required to be filled in by the users. It
also contains various command buttons to fulfill the user’s need such as
submit, refresh or renew.
Primary
keys and foreign keys are used for data extracting where they provide links
when being searched. A primary key is an identifier for a database record in a
relational table. When one primary key is searched, it will lead to the
specific record in the table. A foreign key is known as a relationship between
two tables which contains related data in both of them. It is mostly used in
relational databases which link the table together.
In the field of electronic database, there are
many types of databases which have different layouts of tables, different ways
of storing data and more. Different types of databases have different functions.
Some of the most commonly used databases are:
·
Relational
databases
In
relational databases, data are stored in series of tables, with each table
representing their specific key fields, where one key field in a table can be
linked to other tables in other parts of the database.
This
type of database can overcome the problem of extracting data by the cause of
the massive data storage as relational databases are able to separate and
categorized the data in a very specific way so that when the data is searched,
the data can be lead to with keywords or key fields.
For
example, this is a table (table 1) regarding to the student’s information. As
you can observe in the table, there are several fields in the tables filled
with numbers. These numbers represents something in another table (table 2). By
relating the table 1 with table 2, those numbers in table 1 represents the data
in table 2.
|
Way
of Transport
|
||||
|
Name
|
Age
|
Car
|
Bike
|
Bus
|
|
Jack
|
14
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
|
Jill
|
15
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
David
|
15
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
Way of Transport
|
|
|
1
|
Yes
|
|
0
|
No
|
·
Network
Databases
The
network database has its special and unique function. This kind of database
allows a many-to- many relationship, where one individual record can act as a
multiple role records leading to other records. Therefore, a single data can
have up to hundreds of related data.
·
Operational
databases
These
databases are specially designed to store large amount of data by creating a
database in a database. In the main database, there will be some minor database
with its own field. Also, an operational database allows data to be manipulated
accordingly to the user when needed.
A database can be created by a wide range of software. Thus, sometimes,
creating a database using different software can really make a difference in
the effectiveness of the database as some software are designed to cover
specific needs in a company while others are designed to be basic and can
distributed publicly where it can satisfy a wide range of tasks and work.
Although the different designs and varieties, these database still
follow a same rule, the SQL programming language. The Structured Query Language
(SQL) is a basic language specially designed for managing databases. Commands
include “Select”, “Insert”, “Update”, “Delete”, “Create”, and “Drop”, where all
can provide a function to the database.
-
Microsoft Access
It is a
program made by Microsoft which combines the database engine with a graphical
user interface and some additional development tools which gives the user an
easier time on managing data.
Majorly used
in creating relational databases to overcome the problem of vast amount of data
being stored in the database, it is used for analysing, referencing, and
tracking down data accurately by using links or key fields found in the data.
-
Oracle
The Oracle is
a database management system created to suit the making and maintaining of the
relational database. It is designed with multiple versions in order to make
sure that it can be used in multiple devices where its range of users can be
expanded. There are four versions of the oracle: Enterprise edition, standard
edition, express edition and lite version.
The enterprise
version is specially designed for highly professional use where security and
performance will be at max. It has additional features included in it that will
benefit its user.
The standard
edition is designed for normal people who need a database for their simple or
not specific tasks. It includes basic function of database managing and
creating so that the user will not be required to buy the professional edition
and ending up wasting all the additional functions.
The express edition
however, is a portable, free and limited version of the Oracle where it is only
available for Linux and Windows while the lite version is specially designed
for phone use where the user can access a database anywhere, any time.
Case study: Application of
Database in Real Life- Health Care
In real life, the medical industry requires the use of database in order
to perform tasks and to record data. The relevancy of database usage is high as
it is needed for storing patients’ data and medical records or even checking
for diseases through symptoms.
In the obvious part, most of the databases are used to store patients’
data and medical records where the way of management of those patient records
proves its effectiveness. Different health care facilities will have different
ways of managing data due to their environment. These types of healthcare
facilities are:
·
Small Clinics
-
As a solo
doctor working in a small clinic, needs for automation will be satisfied with
just simple processors and systems as the data which are required to be tracked
and recorded are only the patient’s data, medical record, billing and
scheduling.
From Stanford’s
report on databases, a survey was held and it was to be found that most of the
clinical doctors prefer having a manual database rather than an electronic database
as compared to the cost of having a manual database to the running cost of an
electronic database, the manual database has proved its efficiency by its data
being able to be kept up close by hand, allowing the doctors to take notes
while consulting the patient.
·
Hospitals
-
A hospital, dealing with hundreds of patients
per day, gives a totally different list of requirements from the clinics.
Additional data such as how long the patient will be hospitalized, the time
when they check-in or check-out or the status the patient is in; living or dead
are needed for the hospital in order to carry out treatments.
Also, although the patient will be just hospitalized
for just a few days, however, requests or emergency might be needed every few
minutes time. With this tight timeframe and the constant updating of data, it
is hard to catch up and non-accurate for a manual database to be used. Frequent
data input and updating must be used, however these kinds of data will not stay
in an active state over long periods. Therefore, electronic databases are
required to clear off irrelevant data that will not be used over long periods
and save the important ones such as the type of treatment undergone.
More, in cases of emergencies, time is crucial for a
patient’s data to be retrieved before carrying out any treatments. This may be
a life threatening factor where manual databases requires quite a long time to
retrieve data whereas electronic databases are fast and accurate, reducing the
conflict between the user and the data.
Conclusion
In conclusion, databases, both manual and
electrical, are important to humans for their usage in our daily lives.
Everywhere we go, we can find databases being used even at some least expected
place. It is crucial to know how databases function by the frequency we are
using them in our lives.
After all the researches and case studies,
the role of a database in an organization is found out to be the following:
·
To simplify the search and application of the
needed information
-
The search is simplified by narrowing down
data based on keywords and fields
·
To monitor and analyse the changes in data in
a database using prefixed calculations or formulas
-
Formulas are entered into the system where
calculations will be made automatically and graphs will be plotted stating the
changes of data
·
To determine a better planning solution for
the organization
-
With data forecasting, the organization is
allowed to make further planning for the organization’s advantage
·
To provide security to the organization
-
Login and passwords will be needed while
accessing data in the organization’s database,
giving the organization security and track of suspicious peoples
·
Saves operating cost
-
The cost of retrieving data (time, energy) can
be saved using a database
·
Allows changes on data
-
Employees will be allowed to access the data
while make changes or update the data. Everyone can share the burden instead of
only one employee managing everything on the database
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