components of DBMS

Importance of database Contents

Components are important for understanding and designing the database system.

Basic Components of DBMS

A database system has four components. 
      1. Data
      2. Hardware
      3. Software
      4. Users

1. Data

      As we have discussed above, data is raw hand information collected by us. Data is made up of data item or data aggregate. A Data item is the smallest unit of named data: It may consist of bits or bytes. A Data item is often referred to as field or data element. A Data aggregate is the collection of data items within the record, which is given a name and referred as a whole. Data can be collected orally or written. A database can be integrated and shared. Data stored in a system is partition into one or two databases. So if by chance data lost or damaged at one place, then it can be accessed from the second place by using the sharing facility of data base system. So a shared data also cane be reused according to the user’s requirement. Also data must be in the integrated form. Integration means data should be in unique form i.e. data collected by using a well-defined manner with no redundancy, for example Roll number in a class is non-redundant form and so these have unique resistance, but names in class may be in the redundant form and can create lot of problems later on in using and accessing the data.

2. Hardware

      Hardware is also a major and primary part of the database. Without hardware nothing can be done. The definition of Hardware is “which we can touch and see”, i.e. it has physical existences. All physical quantity or items are in this category. For example, all the hardware input/output and storage devices like keyboard, mouse, scanner, monitor, storage devices (hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic disk, and magnetic drum) etc. are commonly used with a computer system.

3. Software

      Software is another major part of the database system. It is the other side of hardware. Hardware and software are two sides of a coin. They go side by side. Software is a system. Software are further subdivided into two categories, First type is system software (like all the operating systems, all the languages and system packages etc.) and second one is an application software (payroll, electricity billing, hospital management and hostel administration etc.). We can define software as which we cannot touch and see. Software only can execute. By using software, data can be manipulated, organized and stored.

4.  Users

      Without user all of the above said components (data, hardware & software) are meaning less. User can collect the data, operate and handle the hardware. Also operator feeds the data and arranges the data in order by executing the software.