AFM241 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Decision Support System, Relational Database Management System, Database Theory

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Accounting & Financial Management
• Course: AFM241
• Professor: Theophanis Stratopoulos

Document Summary

Metadata: kept in a data dictionary data about the data (summarizes basic information about data) data dictionary compiles all components of data, their names, characteristics, and facts about nature of relations between the different sets of data. Database management system (dbms) manages all the data and metadata. Produces complex data storage functions, including enforcing data input requirements. Creates and enforces a secure environment for storage of data. Manages the complex needs of a multi-user environment. Enforces data integrity at all levels of the database. 4 different database models/applications: hierarchical, network, relational, most common > implemented in form of relational database management. System (rdbms: ex msft access, msft sql, oracle, etc, data rep in 2d tables (files, relations) consisting of rows (records) and columns (attributes, fields, attributes are used to associate data from different tables, object-oriented. Entity: (table, file, or relation) is something that users want to track. Attribute: (fields or columns) characteristics or properties of entities an adjective.