This chapter constitutes an introduction to databases to help you understand the importance of data management, data modeling and to develop some skills for using databases and develop simple applications using Access. This chapter is conceptual in nature and coming directly from a databases book. Tutorial 2 is a hands-on videotutorial to create a database application in Microsoft Access.

Databases are the foundation of structuring data. When they were first implemented in the 1960s, data became easier to manage and structure. A database is now necessary to hold and manage user data and other personal information. Organizations utilize a database management system, or DBMS, for manipulating and storing the data into the databases while also managing the relationships between the data itself.

As computers and other technology began to become introduced, it became much simpler to manage data and store it in the DBMS. A database has many advantages, including efficiency, versatility, categorization, and organization to name a few. However, there are associated costs and risks to databases. The organization is now required to put funding towards training employees in managing and updating the DBMS as well as for general upkeep of the management system in order for it to remain stable. Various components of the DBMS to enable this include the people, the hardware, the software, the data itself, and the procedures needed to keep the database organized and well managed.

Finally, the life cycle of the database can be defined by six main phases: database initial study, database design, implementation and loading, testing and evaluation, operation, and maintenance and evolution. It is important to consider what needs to be implemented in a database, but also what role it can play for based on the needs of the organization

Attribution

Adapted by Luis F. Luna-Reyes and Erika G. Martin from book by Sarah North and Xiaohua Xu, Introduction to Database Systems, textbook was developed as part of a Round 16 Textbook Transformation Grant, and licensed under  CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. and licensed under  CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.