Database Design - more detail

Adding a database to a website:
Every website hosting platform should have the ability to add a database function to their website - however, unless somewhat experienced with setting up database functionality, you may need assistance to do so - enquire more.

What is a database:
A database is a structured collection of records or data that is stored in a web server so that a developed program, or person using a query language, can consult it to answer queries. The records retrieved in answer to queries are information that can be used to make decisions.
The term database refers to the collection of related records, and the software should be referred to as the database management system or DBMS. When the context is ambiguous, however, many database administrators and programmers use the term database to cover both meanings.

Key concept of a database:
The central concept of a database is a collection of records, or pieces of information. Many professionals consider a collection of data to constitute a database only if it has certain properties: for example, if the data is managed to ensure its integrity and quality; if it allows shared access by a community of users; if it has a schema (data model of a specific problem domain that is in terms of a particular data management technology), or if it supports a query language. However, there is no definition of these properties that is universally agreed upon.

Typically, for a given database, there is a structural description of the type of facts held in that database: this description is known as a schema. The schema describes the objects that are represented in the database, and the relationships among them.

There are a number of different ways of organising a schema - that is, of modelling the database structure: these are known as database models (or data models). The model in most common use today is the relational model, which in layman's terms represents all information in the form of multiple related tables, each consisting of rows and columns (the formal definition uses mathematical terminology). This model represents relationships by the use of values common to more than one table. Other models such as the hierarchical model and the network model use a more explicit representation of relationships.

Database management systems are usually categorised according to the data model that they support: relational, object-relational, network, and so on. The data model will tend to determine the query languages that are available to access the database. A great deal of the internal engineering of a DBMS, however, is independent on the data model, and is concerned with managing factors such as performance, concurrency, integrity, and recovery from hardware failures. In these areas there are large differences between products.

A typical query could be a question such as, "How many pies with two or more drinks were sold in the month of March in Queensland?”. To answer such a question, the database would have to store information about pies sold, including number of drinks stocked and sold, sales date, and the region.

Please note: For assistance with database selection, please call one of our friendly consultants on
1300 66 85 85 or eMail us directly.