Types of databases

Types of databases

1. Flat databases

   • Only one table with all the information on there. Mistakes can be made when entering information

2. Relational databases

   • More than one table to store separate types of information. With this, less mistakes will be made
     • Advantages
       • Modifications can be made easily as they only need to be changed once.
       • Everything isn't mixed together
       • Simple design
   • Features
     • Information separated into discrete entities
       • Based on real world
       • E.g employee, product, order
     • Entities are described by a series of fields
       • Describes the structure of the entities
       • E.g product names, weight, price, etc.
     • Entities are connected by a series of relationships
       • Built using common field
       • Represented by entity relationship diagrams (ERDs)

3. Local

   • Only one person can use this database

4. Network

   • These databases can be accessed by a certain amount of people as it is restricted to only them. This is so other people outside the network cannot tamper with private information

5. Online databases

   • Examples
     • Supermarkets
     • Banks
     • Delivery companies
   • Why are they used?
     • Accessible at home or anywhere else
     • Online shopping
     • Updated all the time