Databases Fundamentals of Databases Database

Databases

Fundamentals of Databases

Database software is designed to support rapid access to large amounts of files, records, fields and data through the use of a variety of different indexing techniques. The most prevalent type of database is relational in design and supports links to multiple physical database locations. Relational database can also support databases in multiple physical locations as the logical record pointers are platform independent (Greene, 2008). The fact that the software running database applications are abstracted or independent from the hardware layer of networks continues to be a catalyst behind their significant growth over time, including integration into Web-based applications as well (Wyss, Robertson, 2005). The intent of this paper is to provide an overview of the basic functions of a database and define their future into Web Services as well.

Defining Databases

By definition a database is a collection of records each comprised with a series of fields, accessible through the use of search criteria and indexing techniques. Fields throughout a database can be numeric, alphabetic, alphanumeric and also specifically defined for special characters as well. Database applications are often created specifically for a given purpose or use, and as a result they vary significantly in their underlying development assumptions and approaches to managing information. All databases however share a common attribute of being logical file structures that can be quickly integrated together to support business process workflows and also for generating reports as well (Greene, 2008). Due to this relational database architecture the data can be integrated together and used for completing analytics, initiating and completing data mining programs, and also creating entirely new applications that can report on the progress of strategies and programs in companies and organizations (Hanna, 2004). Databases as a result have increasingly become knowledge resources and sources of insight not available previously.

While there are literally dozens of technologies and approaches to managing databases, the most prevalent technique used today is Structured Query Language (SQL), which is commonplace across the world's best-selling databases including Microsoft, IBM, Oracle and others (Scheraga, 2001). SQL programming techniques are used for creating software applications that take advantage of the extensive amount of databases are capable of organizing (Greene, 2008). The use of integration-based technologies including XML is increasingly being used to create secure connections to databases for transaction-intensive applications including managing supply chains (Smyrlis, 2005). Database application development lends itself well to transaction-intensive applications as their relational file structures and scalability of design are well-suited for intensive access and queries (Pangalos, 1994).

Databases and their relational file structures have also progressed to the point of being open in architectural structure enough to allow for real-time updates via XML calls and integration points throughout individual and shared files (Roth, Hernandez, Coulthard, Yan, et al., 2006). This open architecture-based approach to XML integration is also making databases ideally suited for transaction-intensive environments throughout e-commerce websites and throughout complex transactions involving multiple selling partners through a supply chain as well (Smyrlis, 2005). As a result, databases are the foundation of distributed order management, enterprise content management, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.

Databases and Security