Databases

What is a Database? A database is an organized collection of information or data. Databases can be paper-based or electronic. Information (text and/or numbers) can be changed, updated or deleted at any time. Think BIG lists!

What is an electronic database? An electronic database helps you store large amounts of information. The database program for the MS Office Suite is called Access. In Access, records, fields, and entries are stored in tables. Field Record Database Table Entry

Access Database Here is a database table called “Recent Additions.” It was created in Design view. You can open it (below) in datasheet view to enter and view records.

Who uses databases? Schools use a database to store details about its students. A hospital will store details of all its patients. A bank will have a database of all its customer accounts.

Database Structure Tables are divided into fields with each field holding different kinds of information. Each set of fields is known as a record. A record is a complete set of information on a person or item. Name Address Tel Number Jane Smith 3 Elmwood Ave 90207423 Tom Brown 6 Owenmore Pk 904278954

Why use an electronic Database? You can sort information held in a database very quickly and accurately. You can quickly search by using a QUERY. Databases are also relational - meaning they allow the user to see how lists and objects relate to one another. The fact that relational databases can handle information this way allows the user to enter, search, and analyze data in more than one table at a time quickly and easily . Therefore, in a database, even complicated tasks can be simplified and made fairly user-friendly

Query You can search the database to find out information that you need using QUERIES. A QUERY is a database search. Example - A real estate agent may want to query a database to find all the houses he has for sale or rent in a particular area.

Queries = Questions You can ask the database “questions,” called queries, to find related records. The “Show Africa” query will only display records where the continent is Africa.

Reports help organize information Databases can become large as you add more records. Reports help organize by allowing you to choose specific fields to print. The Animal-Date report will only print the name and arrival date of each record.

Have you used a database? What is an example of a common printed database found in most homes? Hint – names, addresses, phone numbers What is a database you have used at school? Hint – books

Let’s Look at Some Examples This “Top 10 Books” is a list in a Database. Hunger Games is #1

The computer knows that the Hunger Games in the top 10 list relates to this list.

Which is also related to this list of books by Suzanne Collins

Databases on the Web Databases are often used on the Web. Many Web sites use one or more databases. Examples – Search engines and retail sites

How is a database different than a spreadsheet like Excel? A spreadsheet stores data too, but has a different purpose. The purpose of spreadsheet software is to manipulate numbers. We can still use spreadsheets to store data though too. A database, like MS Access, is helpful when storing non-numerical data, like names and descriptions. Remember sorting data is a spreadsheet? Databases allow you to sort and analyze data quickly as well on a much larger scale.

How many Databases include you? Think about this question and pair and share with a neighbor.