MIS Chapter 5
9) What is a database application?
: A database application is a collection of forms, reports, queries, and application programs that serves as an intermediary between users and database data. Database applications reformat database table data to make it more informative and more easily updated. Application programs also have features that provide security, maintain data consistency, and handle special cases. The specific purposes of the four elements of a database application are: Forms- View data; insert new, update existing, and delete existing data Reports- Structured presentation of data using sorting, grouping, filtering, and other operations Queries- Search based upon data values provided by the user Application programs- Provide security, data consistency, and special-purpose processing, e.g., handle out-of-stock situations.
4) Describe the usefulness of metadata.
: A database is self-describing in that it contains, within itself, a description of its contents. This is because it contains not only data, but also data about the data in the database. This data is known as metadata. It is the presence of metadata that makes databases much more useful than spreadsheets or data in other lists. Because of metadata, no one needs to guess, remember, or even record what is in a database. To find out what a database contains, we just look at the metadata inside the database
Describe the contents of a database
A database is a self-describing collection of integrated records that is organized based on a hierarchy of data elements. A byte is a character of data. Bytes are grouped into columns. Columns are also called fields. A key is a column or group of columns that identifies a unique row in a table. Columns that are keys of a different table than the one in which they reside are called foreign keys. Columns or fields, in turn, are grouped into rows, which are also called records. Finally, a group of similar rows or records is called a table or a file. A database contains, within itself, a description of its contents called metadata. Metadata are data that describe data. Thus, a database is a collection of tables plus relationships among the rows in those tables, plus special data, called metadata, that describes the structure of the database.
6) Describe the functions of a database management system.
A database management system (DBMS) is a program used to create, process, and administer a database. 1. Database developers use the DBMS to create tables, relationships, and other structures in the database. To create a new table, the developer just fills out a new table's metadata into a form. To modify an existing table-for example, to add a new column-the developer opens the metadata form for that table and adds a new row of metadata. 2. The second function of the DBMS is to process the database. The DBMS provides applications for four processing operations: to read, insert, modify, or delete data. These operations are requested in application calls upon the DBMS. From a form, when the user enters new or changed data, a computer program that processes the form calls the DBMS to make the necessary database changes. From a Web application, a program on the client or on the server application program calls the DBMS directly to make the change. 3. A third DBMS function is to provide tools to assist in the administration of the database. Database administration involves a wide variety of activities. For example, the DBMS can be used to set up a security system involving user accounts, passwords, permissions, and limits for processing the database. In addition to security, DBMS administrative functions include backing up database data, adding structures to improve the performance of database applications, removing data that are no longer wanted or needed and similar tasks.
5) Explain database management systems (DBMS).
A database management system (DBMS) is a program used to create, process, and administer a database. A DBMS is different from a database in that a DBMS is a software program while a database is a collection of tables, relationships, and metadata. Almost no organization develops its own DBMS. Instead, companies license DBMS products from vendors such as IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, and others. Popular DBMS products are DB2 from IBM, Access and SQL Server from Microsoft, and Oracle Database from the Oracle Corporation. Another popular DBMS is MySQL, an open source DBMS product that is license-free for most applications.
What is a NoSQL DBMS?
A few years back, Amazon.com determined that relational database technology wouldn't meet its processing needs, and it developed a nonrelational data store called Dynamo. Google (developed Bigtable) and Facebook (developed Cassandra) also followed suit. Such nonrelational DBMS have come to be called NoSQL DBMS. This term refers to software systems that support very high transaction rates processing relatively simple data structures, replicated on many servers in the cloud. The rise of NoSQL does mean that, for large organizational IS, choosing a relational DBMS is no longer automatic. NoSQL DBMS products are very technical and can be used only by those with a deep background in computer science
39) ________ refers to software systems that support very high transaction rates, processing relatively simple data structures, replicated on many servers in the cloud.
A) NoSQL DBMS
24) Which of the following is considered an administrative function of the DBMS?
A) adding structures to improve the performance of database applications
27) A ________ is a collection of forms, reports, queries, and programs that serves as an intermediary between users and database data.
A) database application
37) One of the reasons for the appearance of new styles of nonrelational database processing is the need for ________.
A) storing data types such as images, audio, and videos in organizations
17) Which of the following is a DBMS product from Microsoft?
B) SQL Server
26) Conducting training to ensure that users and operations personnel know and understand recovery procedures is a(n) ________ of the DBMS.
B) administrative function
30) Which of the following elements of a database application provides security, data consistency, and special-purpose processing?
B) application programs
10) Which of the following best describes the metadata in a database?
B) special data that describes the structure of a database
35) Which of the following is a drawback of the relational database processing model?
C) It was never a natural fit with business documents.
21) SQL stands for ________.
C) Structured Query Language
22) ________ is an international standard language that is used for processing a database.
C) Structured Query Language
32) Which of the following is true of browser-based database applications?
C) They are thin-client applications that need not be pre-installed on a user's computer.
23) One of the important functions of a DBMS is to provide the necessary tools for ________.
C) administering the database
33) Browser-based database applications differ from traditional applications in that they ________.
C) are usually open to the public
16) A(n) ________ is a program that is used to create, process, and administer a collection of self-describing integrated records.
C) database management system (DBMS)
20) The DBMS provides applications for processing operations such as ________.
C) inserting or deleting data
34) Which of the following is a major problem posed by multi-user processing of a database?
C) lost-update problem
36) Which of the following is true of the relational database processing model?
D) It represents relationships with the help of foreign keys.
25) Monitoring the performance of a database after providing solutions for improving its performance is a(n) ________ of the DBMS.
D) administrative function
19) Which of the following is a function of the DBMS?
D) processing a database by inserting or modifying data
40) The conversion of the existing traditional databases in organizations to NoSQL databases is ________.
D) unnecessary in cases where relational databases meet the needs of organizations
18) ________ is a popular enterprise DBMS product from IBM.
DB2
7) How does one create a database and its structures?
Database developers use the DBMS to create tables, relationships, and other structures in the database. A form is used to define a new table or to modify an existing one. To create a new table, the developer just fills the new table's metadata into the form. To modify an existing table, a developer opens the metadata form for that table and adds a new row of metadata.
What are relational databases? What has led to the development of new nonrelational styles of database processing?
Databases that carry their data in the form of tables and that represent relationships using foreign keys are called relational databases. Foreign keys are columns that are keys of a different table than the one in which they reside. The relational model was the single, standard way of processing databases for over thirty years. Recently, however, new styles of database processing have started appearing. Part of the reason is that the major principles of the relational model-fixed-sized tables, representing relationships with foreign keys, and the theory of normalization-came about because of limited storage space and limited processing speeds back in the 1960s and early 1970s. At some point, maybe the mid-1990s, these limitations were removed by improved storage and processing technology and today they do not exist. In other words, the relational model is not needed today. Other reasons for the development of nonrelational databases include the need to gain faster performance using many servers and to store new types of data such as images, audio, and videos.
38) Which of the following is a nonrelational data store developed by Amazon.com?
Dynamo
11) Most organizations develop their own database management systems.
F
5) In a database, the collection of data for all columns is called a file.
F
12) DB2 is a popular DBMS product that is licensed from Microsoft.
F
13) A DBMS is also referred to as a database.
F
14) Hypertext Markup Language is an international standard language for processing a database.
F
20) Queries in database applications present data in a structured manner using operations such as sorting, grouping, and filtering.
F
21) Reports in database applications provide security, data consistency, and special-purpose processing.
F
22) All traditional databases require the Internet to transmit traffic between a user's computer and a DBMS server computer.
F
27) Security requirements are more stringent for traditional applications than for browser-based ones.
F
28) The lost-update problem caused by multi-user processing in databases can be prevented by avoiding all types of database locking.
F
29) MySQL DBMS refers to software systems that support very high transaction rates, processing relatively simple data structures, replicated on many servers in the cloud.
F
3) Bytes, which are characters of data, are grouped into rows in a database.
F
4) In a database, columns are also called records.
F
8) Databases that carry their data in the form of tables and that represent relationships using foreign keys are called discrete databases.
F
Which of the following best describes a byte in a database
It is a character of data.
Define SQL.
Structured Query Language (SQL) is an international standard language for processing a database. DBMS products like DB2 from IBM, Access and SQL Server from Microsoft, and Oracle Database from the Oracle Corporation accept and process SQL statements. Another popular DBMS that accepts SQL statements is MySQL, an open source DBMS product that is license-free for most applications. One need not understand or remember SQL language syntax. Instead, one needs to just realize that SQL is an international standard for processing a database. Also, SQL can be used to create databases and database structures.
17) DBMS administrative functions include adding structures to improve the performance of database applications.
T
23) In single-user databases, the application, the DBMS, and the database all reside on a user's computer.
T
1) Databases are required to keep track of lists with multiple themes.
T
10) To find out what a database contains, one can look at the metadata inside the database.
T
15) SQL statements can be issued directly to the DBMS by an application program.
T
16) The DBMS can be used to set up a security system involving user accounts, passwords, permissions, and limits for processing the database.
T
18) The administrative functions of a DBMS include backing up database data.
T
19) A database application serves as an intermediary between users and database data.
T
2) A database is a self-describing collection of integrated records.
T
24) Traditional database application programs are written in object-oriented languages such as C++.
T
25) Browser database application forms, reports, and queries are displayed and processed using html.
T
26) Browser applications are thin-client applications that need not be pre-installed on the users' computers.
T
30) NoSQL DBMS products are very technical and can be used only by those with a deep background in computer science.
T
6) In a database, a group of similar rows or records is called a table.
T
7) In a database, a key is a column or group of columns that identifies a unique row in a table.
T
9) The format of the metadata in a database depends on the software product that is processing the database.
T
1) What are the differences between a spreadsheet and a database?
The purpose of both a spreadsheet and a database is to keep track of things. However, unlike a spreadsheet, a database offers the solution of being able to keep track of more than one type of data. Lists of data involving a single theme can be stored in a spreadsheet. However, lists that involve multiple themes require a database.
31) Traditional database application programs are written in object-oriented languages like ________.
VisualBasic
4) In a database, bytes are grouped into ________.
columns
A ________ is a self-describing collection of integrated records.
database
5) In a database, columns are also called ________.
fields
9) In a database, a table, which is a group of similar rows, is also called a ________.
file
12) In a database, columns that are keys of a different table than the one in which they reside are known as ________ keys.
foreign
28) Which of the following elements of a database application helps in the insertion of new data and the deletion of existing data?
forms
11) In a database, a ________ is a column or group of columns that identifies a unique row in a table.
key
15) Special data that describe the data contained in a database are called ________.
metadata
7) In a database, the collection of data for all columns is called a ________.
record
6) In a database, rows are also called ________.
records
14) In a database, a table is formally referred to as a ________.
relation
13) Databases that carry their data in the form of tables and represent relationships using foreign keys are called ________ databases.
relational
29) Which of the following elements of a database application presents data in a structured manner using sorting, grouping, filtering, and other operations?
reports
The purpose of a database is to ________.
store lists of data involving multiple themes
8) In a database, a group of similar rows is called a ________.
table
