Database
- An electronically stored, structured collection of data for efficient organization, retrieval, and management.
- Data is often organized into tables that are linked through common fields (e.g., a customer ID) to enable easy retrieval and analysis.
- Databases commonly include security measures such as authentication and role-based permissions to protect sensitive information.
Definition
Section titled “Definition”A database is a structured collection of data that is stored and accessed electronically. It allows for efficient organization, retrieval, and management of large amounts of information.
Explanation
Section titled “Explanation”Databases organize related information into structured formats, commonly tables, to make storage and retrieval efficient. Tables contain related data and can be linked through common fields (for example, a customer ID) so that records across tables can be associated and queried together. Databases are used to store different kinds of information (for example, customer details or patient records) and often include built-in security measures to protect sensitive data. Access controls such as authentication and permissions restrict who can view or modify data.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Customer database
Section titled “Customer database”A customer database stores and manages information about customers, such as contact information, purchase history, and preferences. Businesses use this information for purposes such as personalized marketing campaigns and customer service support.
Medical database
Section titled “Medical database”A medical database is used by healthcare providers to store and manage patient information, such as medical history, medications, and test results. This information can be accessed by doctors and other healthcare professionals to make informed treatment decisions and provide high-quality care to patients.
Use cases
Section titled “Use cases”- Personalized marketing campaigns
- Customer service support
- Making informed treatment decisions in healthcare
- Providing high-quality care to patients
Notes or pitfalls
Section titled “Notes or pitfalls”Databases often implement security measures to protect sensitive information; for example, a medical database may require authentication for access and grant access only to authorized users with specific roles and permissions.
Related terms
Section titled “Related terms”- Tables
- Customer ID
- Authentication
- Roles and permissions