What is a database? I bet most people reading this blog post think that they know the answer to that question. But many of them would be wrong. DB2 is not a database, it is a DBMS, or Database Management System. You can use DB2 to create a database, but DB2, in and of itself, is not a database. Same goes for Oracle (which is a DBMS and a company) and SQL Server (just a DBMS).
So what is a database? A database is an organized store of data wherein the data is accessible by named data elements (for example, fields, records, and files). It does not even have to be computerized to be a database. The phone book is a database (Why do they still send out phone books? Does anyone even use them any more? Now I’m way off topic, so let’s get back on track.)
A DBMS is software that enables end users or application programmers to share data. It provides a systematic method of creating, updating, retrieving and storing information in a database. DBMSs also are generally responsible for data integrity, data access control, and automated rollback, restart and recovery.
In layman’s terms, you can think of a database as a filing system. You can think of the filing cabinet itself along with the file folders and labels as the DBMS. A DBMS manages databases. You implement and access database instances using the capabilities of the DBMS.
So, DB2 and Oracle and SQL Server and MySQL are database management systems. Your payroll application uses the payroll database, which may be implemented using DB2 or Oracle or…
Why is that important? If we do not use precise terms when we write, speak, and work confusion can result. And confusion leads to over budget projects, improperly developed systems, and lost productivity. So precision must be important to us.
