Applications of Information
and Communication
Technologies
CSC 101
CSC101 Applications of Information
Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Databases & Database Management
Systems
CSC101 Applications of Information
Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Goals
• Explain what a database is, including common database terminology, and
list some of the advantages and disadvantages of using databases.
• Discuss some basic concepts and characteristics of data, such as data
hierarchy, entity relationships, and data definition.
• Describe the importance of data integrity, security, and privacy
• Describe centralized vs distributed database systems
CSC101 Applications of Information
Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
What is a Database?
• Database
• A collection of related data that is stored in a manner enabling information to be
retrieved as needed
• Database Management System (DBMS)
• Software used to create, maintain and access a database
• Most widely used DBMS:
• Microsoft Access
• Oracle Database
• IBM’s DB2
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Basic Concepts
• Field (column)
• A single type of data to be stored in a
database
• Record (row)
• A collection of related fields
• Table
• A collection of related records
• Primary Key
• A specific field in a database table that
uniquely identifies the records in that table.
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
A Simple Database Example
Field (column): A single type of
data
Record (row): A collection of
related fields
CSC101 Applications of Information Table: A collection of related Primary Key: uniquely identifies the Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies records records
Advantages and Disadvantages of the
DBMS
• Advantages
• Low level of redundancy
• Faster response time
• Lower storage requirements
• Easier to secure
• Increased data accuracy
• Disadvantages
• Increased vulnerability (backup is essential)
• A file management system (an alternative to DBMS) is a program
that allows the creation of individual database tables (often referred to
as flat files).
• Each table is stored in its own physical file and is not related to any
other file.
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Advantages and Disadvantages of the DBMS
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Data Concepts & Characteristics
• Data Hierarchy Databa
• Database se
• Contains a group of related tables
• Tables
• Collection of related records
• Records/rows
• Groups of related fields
• Fields/columns
• Hold single pieces of data
A250 Boots Ajax $60
Co.
CSC101 Applications of Information A250
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Data Concepts & Characteristics
• Entity
• Something (such as a person, an object, or an event) that is important to a business
or an organization
• Typically becomes a database table in a database system for that business or
organization
• Attributes
• Characteristics of an entity
• Typically become fields in the entity’s database table
Produc Produc Suppli Price
t t Name er
Numbe
r e.g. Attributes
e.g. Product of Product are
A201 Skis Ellis Inc. $90
is an Entity Name, Supplier
and Price etc.
A250 Boots Ajax Co. $60
A211 Poles Acme $25
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Data Concepts & Characteristics
• Relationship
• An association between two or more entities
• One to One (1:1) Entity Relationships
• One entity is related to only one other entity of a particular type
• Each record (row) in the table belonging to the first entity can have only one matching
record (row) in the table belonging to the second entity.
• Normally used to breakup large tables for simplicity or data privacy
• Not a common type of relationship
Product Inventory
Produc Produc Suppli Price Stock ID Product ID Quantity
t ID t Name er
A201 Skis Ellis Inc. $90 S23 A250 25
A250 Boots Ajax Co. $60 S44 A201 15
A211 Poles Acme $25 S67 A211 80
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Data Concepts & Characteristics
• One to Many (O:M) Entity Relationship
• Most common type of relationship
• One entity can be related to more than one other entity
• A supplier can supply more than one product to a company
• The supplier would have a single entry in the Supplier table but would appear multiple
times in the Product table
Supplier Product
Supplier Supplier Address Produc Produc Suppli Price
ID Name t ID t Name er
ID
S145 Ellis Inc. Burnsville
A201 Skis S145 $90
S521 Ajax Co. Missouri A250 Boots S521 $60
S324 Acme Sinai A211 Poles S145 $25
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Data Concepts & Characteristics
• Many to Many (M:M) Entity Relationships
• One entity can be related to more than one other entity, and those entities can be related
to multiple entities of the same type as the original entity
• A record (row) in table A (entity A) can have many matching records (rows) in table B
(entity B), and vice versa
• For example, a customer can order multiple products and a product can be ordered by
multiple customers
• This requires a junction table or cross-reference table to link the other two tables
together.
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Data Definition
• Data Definition
• The process of describing the properties of data that are to be included in a database
table.
• During data definition, each field is assigned:
• Name (must be unique within the table)
• Data type (such as Text, Number, Currency, Date/Time)
• Description (optional description of the field)
• Properties (field size, format of the field, allowable range, if field is required, etc.)
• Finished specifications for a table become the table structure
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Data Definition
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Data Dictionary
• Data Dictionary
• The repository of all data definitions in a database
• Table structures
• Security information (passwords, etc.)
• Relationships between the tables in the database
• Basic information about each table, such as the current number of records
• Does not contain any of the data in the tables
• Ensures that data being entered into the database does not violate any specified
criteria
Metadata: Data about data, such as the data contained in a data
dictionary
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Data Integrity, Security and Privacy
• Data Integrity
• The accuracy of data
• Quality of the data entered determines the quality of generated information
• Data Validation
• The process of ensuring that data entered into a database is valid (matches the data
definition)
• Record Validation Rules
• Check all fields before changes to a record are saved
• Database Locking
• Prevents two individuals from changing the same data at the same time
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Data Integrity, Security and Privacy
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Data Integrity, Security and Privacy
• Data security
• Protecting the data against destruction and misuse
• Should include strict backup and disaster-recovery procedures (disaster-recovery
plan)
• Database activity monitoring programs and security tools can be used to detect
possible intrusions and risks
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Data Integrity, Security and Privacy
• Data Privacy
• Protecting the privacy of the data located in a database
• Growing concern because of the vast amounts of personal data stored in databases
today
• Many states require businesses to notify customers when their personal data has
been compromised
• Data breaches can be costly
• One estimate is $200 per breached record
• $6.5 million per data breach
A company that stores data about individuals is
responsible for protecting the privacy of that
data.
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Centralized vs. Distributed Database Systems
• Centralized Database System
• A database system in which all of the data used by the system is located on a single
computer
• Distributed Database System
• A database system in which the data used by the system is located on multiple
computers that are connected via a network.
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
Centralized vs. Distributed Database Systems
CSC101 Applications of Information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16th Edition Spring 2025
and Communication Technologies
