Types of Databases

Types of Databases

1. Local Databases

   • One specific user can have access to that database at one time because it is not accessible to other computers as it is restricted.
     • EG: Account departments in schools

2. Flat Databases

   • A flat database is one table which holds all the information for all people of things, and you are more likely to make errors on this type of database because you will have a lot of items and people. But an advantage would be that you are able to see all of the information.

3. Relational Databases

   • A relational database has more than one table which holds different types of information from each different category. A disadvantage would be that you have to remember all of the different short numbers to put into different categories. But an advantage would be that there will be less human errors in the different parts of the table and information and you are also able to modify it easily.
   • Features
     • Information separated into discrete Entities:
       • Based on the real world
         • EG: employees, product, order
     • Entities are described by a series of Fields
       • Describes the structure of the entities
         • Product name, weight
     • Entities are connected by a series of Relationships
       • Built using common fields
         • Represented by entity relationship diagrams (ERDs)

4. Network Databases

   • Many users are able to access the data, because it is not shut down from other computers.
     • EG: A childs information in school, but only a few people are able to change the details as the editing for the details are restricted to others.

5. Online Databases

   • Why are they used?
     • They are used to store information about different types of items and whether they are still in stock and it also stores the users personal information.
   • Examples:
     • Amazon,Tescos,Ebay...