When a business starts up, it’s normal for them to store their data in programme files in unformatted text, for example on Excel sheets, rather than using a database. As time goes by, they will generate a huge amount of different types of data, such as financial, inventory, or personal. In these cases, it is very likely that you will find redundant data, there will be not much security and, what’s more, finding/accessing concrete data might be difficult. This is why it’s recommended to keep data in databases. In these, data is kept in an ordered format and with different access levels for finding and checking things easily, and only for those people who are authorised. But what database applications are and what are they uses? Discover it with Epitech!
Database uses
In this section, you will discover the uses of databases, which bring benefits to the companies that use them:
Sharing data: A database belongs to a company and can be shared by all the authorised users, unlike file systems, which only belong to the people or departments that use them.
Controlling data redundancy: So as to avoid wasting storage space as file systems store several copies of the same data in different files. A redundancy can’t always be eliminated completely, since the same piece of data can be used to create connections between different data.
Data consistency: If you update a piece of data that is stored in only one place, it is updated and is immediately available to all users. If the data appears more than once, in other words, it is duplicated, but the system already recognises the redundancy, the system itself ensures that the copies of the data remain consistent.
Maintaining standards: A database is also used to maintain the standards established, on a company level as well as nationally and internationally.
Database applications
A database can be applied in many areas of a business. Below, we’ll tell you the main database applications:
To improve data integrity: Integrity is normally expressed through rules or restrictions that cannot be broken. These restrictions are applied to data and the connections they have between themselves. It is the database system that is responsible for making sure they comply.
To protect data: With a database, you avoid unauthorised users being able to access data.
To easily access data: A database usually provides query languages or report generators. When a user wants to look something up in the data, a programmer won’t need to develop an app to provide the information from the search.
So as not to lose information: In some file systems, when more than one user accesses them at the same time, sometimes the information or integrity can be lost. Applying a database in the system avoids these kinds of issues.
Types of databases
Below you can see the main examples of database software:
- MySql: This type of database is notable for its speed, but it isn’t recommended for administering large amounts of data. It has a server-based GPL licence.
- PostgreSql and Oracle: Unlike the database mentioned above, these are normally used when working with large volumes of data such as in intranets.
- Access: Microsoft has developed this database, which must be specially created with the “Access” programme. This programme creates a .mdb file with a structure that has already been given and explained.
- Microsoft SQL Server: Also developed by Microsoft, this database is more powerful than Access, mentioned above. It’s used when a large number of data needs to be administered.
Epitech
Knowing how databases work, as well as how to use them, is an extremely valuable and useful asset for many companies at the moment. Furthermore, sometimes it can be a challenge to find professionals for these tasks.
If you’d like to know more about databases at Epitech, you’ll find a computer science school where we train our students using the most innovative techniques so that they’re fully prepared for their future.
What’s more, you’ll find a Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree with which you’ll gain an official title, recognised by the EU, and learn everything there is to know about computer software, technologies, etc.
If you have any questions or want to find out any more, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us. We will be delighted to help you, without any kind of commitment.
