Web Programming: Custom Database Applications

 

A database is a collection of information organized in such a way that a computer program can promptly retrieve desired pieces of data. Think of a database as an online filing cabinet. Most databases are organized by: 1) fields 2) records, and 3) files. A field is a single piece of information, a record is a complete set of fields, and a file is a collection of records. The interworkings of a database can most aptly be compared to a telephone book. The telephone book is similar to a file because it contains a list of records, each of which has three fields: name, address, and a telephone number. In order to access information from a database, one needs a database management system (DBMS) which allows the user to enter, organize, and select data.