What is a database?
What is a database? A database is an organized collection of related information.
Things to think about:
- Unorganized information is meaningless and difficult to use.
- Organized data is easy to understand.
Print Databases that we are familiar with include:
- telephone directories
- address books
- encyclopedias and dictionaries
Computerized Databases you may be familiar with include:
- X2 – (Student Information management System)
- Automated Card Catalog – Millicent Library
- CD-ROM Encyclopedias
- Amazon.com or on-line shopping Web sites
Advantages of Computerized Databases
- Can find a specific file quickly
- Can alphabetize and sort data faster than most people
- Can filter/search for specific types of information
- Is an accurate as the data that is entered
- Can make many different types of reports
Who uses computerized databases in the real world?
- Stores use them to keep track of inventory
- Travel agents can keep up with their customers and reservations
- Hospitals track patient information
- Schools to keep track of student information, attendance & grades
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Database: A database is an organized collection of information.
Database File: A database file is made up of related records in a database.
Field: A category of information in a database. An example of a field would be the street address category in a computerized address book.
Entry: Data that is in a field. An example of an entry would be the person’s name or phone number.
Wildcard: A character in a search that permits any character to be specified. For example, the search
criteria al* will find Alabama, already, or Albert. Ion a database search, the asterisk (*) is the wildcard
character to replace one or more letters; the question mark (?) is the wildcard character to replace only
one letter.
Multiple Criterion Filter: A database operation that displays records that meet several criteria
simultaneously.
Connectors: Words such as and, or, and not that join certain conditions together when performing a
search.
Operators: Mathematical symbols used in database filters
(>) greater than
(<) less than
(=) equal to
(>) greater than or equal to
(<) less than or equal to When searching/filtering for text, it is often best to use the “contains” operator. This will allow you to key in the first several identifying letters, but not the whole word or words.
RELATIONSHIP — The comparison of two pieces of information using logical operators: less than (<), greater than (>), equals (=), less than or equal to (=<), greater than or equal to (=>). Other comparison terms to look for are “at most,” meaning less than or equal to, and “at least,” which translates as equal to or greater than.
SEARCH — The process of finding all records of a database that meet a certain rule, statement, or criterion. A search may be based on a single statement, rule, or criterion, or a combination of statements, rules, and criteria joined by AND, OR, and AND/OR. This process is also called a query or match in some database software programs.
SORT — Arranging information in a specific order (usually ascending and descending).
- Ascending order: method of sorting data in order from lowest to highest (A-Z) or numerical order (0-9)
- Descending order: the opposite of ascending order. Example: Reverse alphabetical order (Z-A) or reverse numerical is high to low (9-0).
Walters, Diane. “Computer Skills Online Study Guide.” Wake County Public School System. 03 Jun 2008. Wake County Public School. 7 Nov 2008 <http://www.wmms.net/walters/student/computer_skills_vocabulary.htm>.