What is a Database?

If you find yourself wondering what is a database, it is a form of an online management system or paper filing system that is used to organize, store and retrieve information.  An online database is usually managed by a specialized computer software program, the DBMS, or database management system.  There are many examples of such software systems, the most popular being Microsoft Access/SQL and MySQL.  However, none of these modern software systems have been able to truly match the incredible abilities of the Dbase software of the 1980’s.

Many people often wonder what is a database and what are the advantages. The advantage of a database is that large amounts of information on varied subjects, with sub-levels of data, can be quickly stored and retrieved.  Information within such systems can be searched by any set criteria as designated by the user.  For example, when setting up an online database, the user can decide the titles of each field of entry – name, address, phone, etc. – which can be as detailed as the user deems fit.  Then the user can set the database up to retrieve the data according to a particular field.  For example, address – the user could ask for all database files relating to say Hudson Avenue in New York City, or any found in the Sacramento area.  In fact, the search criteria are only limited by the user themselves and the descriptions they use for each field.

A database is used by most companies, organizations, governments and regular people worldwide.  A cue card holder or box full of recipes is a form of a database.  A list of websites in a home computer is a type of database.  Basically any list of information regarding any topic, filed in one spot, whether a list of bookmarks from the Internet, or a collection of hockey cards in a shoe box, is a database.

Databases are the most common form of classification for all things, helping the user to keep all the information stored in one place.  This ultimately keeps things organized and enables quick retrieval when desired.

What is a database today? Database today has come a long way from its early days, and thanks again to government and military secret systems like the Internet, database has taken on a new and more refined form called XML.  Now a fairly new product on the market in 2007, XML database is not only the main language of the Internet, but a more defined programming software that adds further clarity to such programs as HTML and XHTML.  It further defines categories for each industry, with industry specific codings and words.  In fact, the latest use of the XML database software is now being used for large news syndicates to quickly transport news stories and photographs across the globe for sale.  Such companies like Reuters have been quick to use this innovative database system.  Media outlets like the BBC, CNN, CBC and other world newspapers, magazines and now online websites are jumping on board.  This new database system is being hailed as the ultimate replacement for bulk emailing and newsletters, now known as RSS feeds.