{"id":360,"date":"2016-05-25T03:24:08","date_gmt":"2016-05-25T10:24:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/database.guide\/?p=360"},"modified":"2026-02-02T07:47:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T21:47:50","slug":"what-is-a-database","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-a-database\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Database?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A <dfn>database<\/dfn> is a collection of data, stored in a logical and structured manner.<\/p>\n<p>The way in which data is organised, allows for efficient\u00a0retrieval of the\u00a0data. Data can be viewed,\u00a0inserted, updated, and deleted as required.<\/p>\n<p>Most modern databases are built with database software such as <a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-microsoft-access\/\">Microsoft Access<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-sql-server\/\">SQL Server<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-mysql\/\">MySQL<\/a>, etc. But strictly\u00a0speaking, a database could be a simple as an Excel spreadsheet or even a text file.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>In fact, a database\u00a0doesn&#8217;t necessarily need\u00a0to be on a computer. A database could be paper-based. This is how data used to be stored before\u00a0computers were created. Businesses\u00a0and government agencies would maintain\u00a0all data on paper, stored in\u00a0large filing cabinets. These databases were\u00a0more commonly referred to as &#8220;filing systems&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>But the world has moved on\u00a0from paper-based systems, and the word &#8220;database&#8221; almost always refers to a database\u00a0built on a computer using\u00a0database software.<\/p>\n<h2>Database Software<\/h2>\n<p>Database software is software that\u00a0enables you to create and maintain databases. A database program\u00a0is usually referred to as a database management system (<a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-a-dbms\/\">DBMS<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Database management systems allow you to perform\u00a0a whole range of tasks. These can include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Create databases<\/li>\n<li>Create <a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-a-table\/\">tables<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Create other DB objects such as <a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-a-view\/\">views<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-a-stored-procedure\/\">stored procedures<\/a>, triggers, indexes, and more<\/li>\n<li>Insert, update, and delete data<\/li>\n<li>Query the data (in a very precise way)<\/li>\n<li>Set up user accounts and roles<\/li>\n<li>Apply permissions to database objects (i.e. determine which objects each user is allowed to access)<\/li>\n<li>Apply other security settings<\/li>\n<li>Create and maintain log files<\/li>\n<li>Import\/export data<\/li>\n<li>Backup\/restore databases and their data<\/li>\n<li>Connect to remote databases (i.e. databases on other servers in other locations)<\/li>\n<li>And much more&#8230;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Relational Database Management Systems<\/h2>\n<p>Since the 1980s, the most common type of database management system is a <em>relational<\/em>\u00a0DBMS. A relational database management system (<a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-an-rdbms\/\">RDBMS<\/a>)\u00a0allows\u00a0for data to be stored across multiple tables that can have a <a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-a-relationship\/\">relationship<\/a> with each other. \u00a0Microsoft Access, SQL Server, and MySQL are all <em>relational<\/em> DBMSs.<\/p>\n<h3>Examples of Relational Database\u00a0Management Systems<\/h3>\n<h4>Microsoft Access<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-microsoft-access\/\">Microsoft Access<\/a> is a well known relational database management system. It&#8217;s\u00a0probably one of the easier ones to learn for those with no experience with databases. It has traditionally been a desktop\u00a0system, but has recently been branching out to web-based &#8220;Custom web apps&#8221;, which has a strong focus on sharing and collaboration.<\/p>\n<h5>The Access Welcome Screen<\/h5>\n<figure id=\"attachment_102\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-102\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/how_to_create_a_database_in_access_1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-102 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/how_to_create_a_database_in_access_1.png\" alt=\"Screenshot of Welcome screen\" width=\"600\" height=\"439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/how_to_create_a_database_in_access_1.png 600w, https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/how_to_create_a_database_in_access_1-300x220.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-102\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Microsoft Access Welcome screen allows you to create a database from scratch. You can also search through thousands of templates for a &#8220;pre-built&#8221; database that you can use to get started.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h5>A Blank Database in Access<\/h5>\n<figure id=\"attachment_106\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-106\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/how_to_create_a_database_in_access_3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-106\" src=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/how_to_create_a_database_in_access_3.png\" alt=\"Screenshot of blank database\" width=\"600\" height=\"440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/how_to_create_a_database_in_access_3.png 600w, https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/how_to_create_a_database_in_access_3-300x220.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-106\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This is a newly created blank desktop database. A table has automatically been created. You can now customise this database to your own needs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h4>SQL Server<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-sql-server\/\">SQL Server<\/a> is also from Microsoft, but it&#8217;s a step up from Access. SQL Server is an enterprise level RDBMS and\u00a0is used by some of the largest companies in the world. It is a client-server system, which basically means multiple users can access the database from any location.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_268\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-268\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/sql_server_2014_management_studio_2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-268\" src=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/sql_server_2014_management_studio_2.png\" alt=\"Screenshot of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) in SQL Server 2014.\" width=\"600\" height=\"402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/sql_server_2014_management_studio_2.png 600w, https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/sql_server_2014_management_studio_2-300x201.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-268\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is a graphical tool for working with SQL Server.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h4>MySQL<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-mysql\/\">MySQL<\/a> is an open source RDBMS, and is\u00a0one of the most widely used database management systems in the world. Many websites (large and small) use MySQL and most hosting companies support it. MySQL is also a client-server system.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_363\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-363\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/mysql_workbench_1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-363\" src=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/mysql_workbench_1.png\" alt=\"Screenshot of MySQL Workbench\" width=\"600\" height=\"418\" srcset=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/mysql_workbench_1.png 1023w, https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/mysql_workbench_1-300x209.png 300w, https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/mysql_workbench_1-768x535.png 768w, https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/mysql_workbench_1-676x470.png 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-363\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">MySQL Workbench is a graphical tool for working with MySQL.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>NoSQL Databases<\/h2>\n<p><dfn>NoSQL<\/dfn> is a term that refers loosely to a particular type of database model, or database management system that doesn&#8217;t adhere strictly to the relational\/SQL model.<\/p>\n<p>NoSQL is a very broad term\u00a0that doesn&#8217;t refer to one particular database model. Rather, it refers to a\u00a0whole variety\u00a0of different models\u00a0that don&#8217;t fit into the relational model.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/nosql-database-types\/\">NoSQL database types<\/a> include <a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-a-graph-database\/\">graph databases<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-a-column-store-database\/\">column store databases<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-a-document-store-database\/\">document store databases<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-a-key-value-database\/\">key-value databases<\/a>, etc.<\/p>\n<p>NoSQL DBMSs include MongoDB, Neo4j, Redis, Cassandra, etc.<\/p>\n<p>Many DBMSs are <a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-a-multi-model-database\/\">multi-model<\/a> these days. For example, many RDBSs include aspects that were typically associated with NoSQL, such as document store, column store, graph, etc.<\/p>\n<h2>Database Software vs Spreadsheets<\/h2>\n<p>Spreadsheet software such as Excel can provide quite good functionality for storing data. But it does have its limitations.<\/p>\n<p>Spreadsheets were originally designed for accounting\/bookkeeping tasks, but they also become popular\u00a0for many\u00a0situations where tabular data needed to be presented, sorted, filtered, etc.<\/p>\n<p>So spreadsheets can\u00a0still be used\u00a0for\u00a0storing\u00a0data if you have no other choice.<\/p>\n<p>But a\u00a0DBMS will provide many benefits over a spreadsheet. The benefits of a well configured\u00a0DBMS include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Enforces <a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-data-integrity\/\">data integrity<\/a> (basically, you&#8217;re less likely to get &#8220;wrong&#8221; data)<\/li>\n<li>Keeps the data more secure<\/li>\n<li>Designed to store much more data than spreadsheets are typically designed for<\/li>\n<li>Can handle more simultaneous users, especially server-based DBMSs<\/li>\n<li>Supports other complex tasks such as scheduled backups, scheduled data transfers, replication, query optimisation, triggers, etc<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There are many more benefits of database management systems, but the above are probably already enough to make DBMSs a central part of any business or organisation.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re currently using\u00a0spreadsheets to keep track of data, and you find it becoming difficult to manage, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/how-to-create-a-database-in-access\/\">how to create a database in Access<\/a>\u00a0to get a taste of how easy it can be to create a database. While you&#8217;re at it, why not take it a step further and check out the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/microsoft-access-tutorial\/\">Microsoft Access Tutorial<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A database is a collection of data, stored in a logical and structured manner. The way in which data is organised, allows for efficient\u00a0retrieval of the\u00a0data. Data can be viewed,\u00a0inserted, updated, and deleted as required. Most modern databases are built with database software such as Microsoft Access, SQL Server, MySQL, etc. But strictly\u00a0speaking, a database &#8230; <a title=\"What is a Database?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/database.guide\/what-is-a-database\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about What is a Database?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[18,166,167,20],"class_list":["post-360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-database-concepts","tag-database-terms","tag-define","tag-definition","tag-what-is"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=360"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47736,"href":"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/360\/revisions\/47736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/database.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}