What is a database?
A database is an organised collection of related data. You can imagine a library, but instead of books it keeps data and information. A database is used to store information and to find it again easily and quickly. The information is stored and managed in a digital way, with special programs. Databases have five advantages. Organisation: data is easy to store and to find again. Efficiency: you reach the data quickly. Accuracy: the data is correct and there are fewer mistakes. Security: the data is protected from people who are not allowed to reach it. Sharing: the data is available to many users. Notice that “organised” is the key word. A pile of papers holds data too, but it is hard to search. A database puts the same kind of data in the same place, so that a question like “which book is on the shelf?” is answered in a moment.
| Advantage | What it means | School example |
|---|---|---|
| Organisation | data is easy to store and find | all pupil names in one list |
| Efficiency | data is reached quickly | finding a pupil’s class in a moment |
| Accuracy | fewer mistakes | one correct spelling of a name |
| Security | only allowed people see or change it | only teachers can change marks |
| Sharing | many users can use it | all teachers see the class list |
| Data | Who may read | Who may change |
|---|---|---|
| timetable | everyone | the school office |
| marks | teacher and pupil | the teacher only |
Imagine a database for your class bookshelf. Draw a small table with the names of the columns you would need, such as title, writer and shelf. Add three rows with invented books. Ask a partner a question the table can answer, such as “Which book is on shelf 2?”.