Transcript What is a Database? - Brigham Young University

What is a Database?
• Collection of Dynamic Data
– Large
• Large of yesteryear now fits on a PC (small DBs)
• Many applications require even more (terabytes, petabytes)
• Size is sometimes thought of as the distinguishing feature
– Persistent
• With Some Operations
– To Maintain the Data
– To Retrieve the Data
Intro: 1
What is a Database?
• Collection of Dynamic Data
Data
• Large of yesteryear
now fits on a PC (small DBs)
Metadata
• Many applications require even more (terabytes, petabytes)
Datathought
through
• Query
Size is sometimes
of as the Metadata
distinguishing feature
– Large
– Persistent
• With Some Operations
– To Maintain the Data
– To Retrieve the Data
Intro: 2
What is a Database System?
Supports a Database
• Provides Languages
– DDL (Data-Definition Language)
• Data Definition
• Metadata
– DML (Data-Manipulation Language)
• Data Retrieval
• Data Update
• Provides Services
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Storage Structures (files, indexes, …)
Optimizers
Crash Recovery
Concurrency Control
Constraint Checking (integrity)
Intro: 3
What is a Database Application?
• A Database with Application Programs
– Runs on a Database System
– Helps Satisfy End-User Business Needs
• Examples (of Application Areas)
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Traditional: e.g. Airline Res., Banking, Business Records
Decision Support
Design
Knowledge and Scientific
Multimedia
Information Integration & Data Warehousing
Intro: 4
What’s to Learn about Databases?
(focus on practical DB application development)
• Terminology and Fundamental Concepts
• SQL
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Underlying Concepts (relational algebra and calculus)
Advanced Patterns and Usage
Embeddings in High-Level Languages
Triggers and Transaction Processing
• Secondary Storage Characteristics (query efficiency)
– Files, Indexing, Hashing
– Query Optimization (query rewriting, cost estimation)
– Crash Recovery & Concurrency Control
• Database Design
– Conceptual Modeling
– Design (mapping conceptual models to database schemas,
normalization)
Intro: 5
What are the Current/Future
Challenges for Database Systems?
• World-Wide Data Initiatives (& CS452 Discussion Topics)
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Dataspaces
Semi-structured Data
Semantic Web
Intelligence Gathering and Analysis
• BYU Student Mentoring Opportunities
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Knowledge Bundles
Multilingual Ontologies
Revitalization of OCRed Historical Documents
Web of Knowledge (WoK)
• HyKSS, TANGO, WoK Reasoner
• WePS, Craig’s List Alerter, WoK-HD
Intro: 6