BTEC 2012

Unit 1 The Online World

Name: Charlie Eddington

Lesson 11 Data Storage

(Student Book B Pg 18 - 21)

Starter What is meant by data storage?

Data storage is a general term for archiving data in electromagnetic or other forms for use by a computer
or device.
1. What is a database structure made out of?
Tables and indexes.
2. Explain what is meant be each of the following terms.
Table
A table is a section full of boxes, which can be adjusted, and data can be stored in these boxes.
Record
A record is all of the data about one person or one thing.
Field
A field is a single piece of data about one person or one thing.
Relationship
In a database a 'relationship' means two fields in different tables depend on one another.
Data Type
Databases store data. In order to make the database more efficient, different types of data are usually
classified as a certain 'data type'.
3. Name the various data types that are used in databases.
I.
Number
II.
Alphanumeric or text
III.
Currency
IV.
Date / time

A.Silver

BTEC 2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: Charlie Eddington

Databases use relationships to link different tables together as shown below.

4. What is a primary key?

A primary key, also called a primary keyword, is a key in a relational database that is unique for each
record.
5. What is a foreign key?
In a foreign key reference, a link is created between two tables when the column or columns that hold
the primary key value for one table are referenced by the column or columns in another table. This
column becomes a foreign key in the second table.
6. What kind of relationships can tables have between each other?
Tables can have one-to-one relationships or one-to-many relationships.
Online databases are databases which are accessible using a network, including the internet.
They are very different to local databases as they have to be accessed, and possibly updated,
by millions of users. Normally these databases will have thousands of rows of information.
Usually information is found in online databases by using a search engine.
7. How might an online database be used?
An online database may be used to store a large amount of data efficiently. It is also very quick and easy
to find the stored information.
8. What is a DBMS? What does it do?
DBMS stands for Data Base Management System. It is a software application that is designed to
produce and maintain a database.
9. Name some common database management systems that are used:
I.
Oracle
II.
SQL Server
III.
DB2

A.Silver

BTEC 2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: Charlie Eddington

Plenary What is the difference between a database and a database management system?
Database is a collection of interrelated data. Database management system is software which can be
used to manage the data by storing it on to the data base and by retrieving it from the data base.

A.Silver