Database management is the system to manage information that is essential to the business operations of an organization. It involves storing data, distributing it to users and applications and then modifying it if necessary, monitoring changes in the data and preventing it from becoming corrupted by unexpected failure. It is a part of a company’s overall informational infrastructure that aids in decision-making and growth of the company as well as compliance with laws like the GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act.

The first database systems were created in the 1960s by Charles Bachman, IBM and others. They evolved into the information management systems (IMS) that allowed for the storage and retrieve large amounts data for a variety of purposes, ranging 167.86.113.78 from calculating inventory to supporting complicated financial accounting and human resources functions.

A database is a collection of tables that organizes data according to an established pattern, such as one-to many relationships. It uses primary key to identify records, and also allows cross-references among tables. Each table has a collection of attributes or fields that provide information about data entities. The most well-known type of database today is a relational model designed by E. F. “Ted” Codd at IBM in the 1970s. This model is based upon normalizing the data, making it more easy to use. It is also easier to update data because it does not require changing certain sections of the database.

Most DBMSs support multiple types of databases through different levels of external and internal organization. The internal level concerns the cost, scalability, and other operational issues like the physical layout of the database. The external level is the way the database is presented in user interfaces and other applications. It could include a mix of different external views that are based on different data models. It also may also include virtual tables that are calculated with generic data to enhance the performance.