Characteristics of DBMS

Last Updated on July 10, 2023 by Mayank Dham

A Data Base Management System (DBMS) refers to a collection of computer programs designed for the purpose of creating and modifying databases. It serves as a software suite that ensures the integrity of data. Additionally, the DBMS acts as an intermediary between the end user and the database, while providing a platform for multiple users to collaboratively create, access, and manipulate data within the database.

Characteristics of DBMS

Below, we will elaborate on some characteristics of Database Management System (DBMS).

1. Real World Entity:

• One of the fundamental and easily comprehensible characteristics of a Database Management System (DBMS) is its practicality. The DBMS is specifically designed to handle the complex requirements of large-scale business organizations and safeguard their valuable data.
• The Database within the DBMS has the capability to store various types of information, such as the prices of vegetables, milk, bread, and so on. In the DBMS, the entities representing objects in the real world are mirrored.
• For instance, when creating a student database, it is necessary to define an entity that corresponds to an actual student, encapsulating their relevant data. The commonly employed attributes in a student database typically include name, age, gender, and roll number, among others.

2. Self-explaining nature

• Within a Database Management System (DBMS), databases consist of sub-databases, with each level containing metadata, which refers to data about the data.
• In a school database, for instance, the metadata could include information such as the total number of rows in a table and the name of the table itself.
• Therefore, the inherent characteristic of self-explanation in a DBMS is a result of data being stored in a structured format within the database, allowing it to automatically provide comprehensive information.

3. Atomicity of Operations (Transactions):

• The concept of atomicity in a Database Management System (DBMS) entails the notion that an operation must either be fully executed or not executed at all, leaving no intermediate states. This characteristic of atomicity is highly significant and beneficial within a DBMS. To grasp the concept of atomicity more clearly, consider the following example:
• In the context of a bank, each bank maintains its own database that contains comprehensive customer information. Transactions represent the most common atomic operations conducted by the bank. Suppose Sona wishes to transfer 1000 rupees to Archita’s account. With the assistance of the atomicity feature of the database, this transfer can be reliably executed. However, if there is an issue with Archita’s account or a failure in maintaining atomicity within the database, Sona’s account may be debited, but the funds will not be credited to Archita’s account.
• When the database possesses the atomicity feature, such transactions either occur in their entirety or do not occur at all. In the event of a failed transaction, the funds will automatically be returned to the sender’s account.
• Essentially, the successful completion of a transaction hinges on the proper functioning of the database. If the database operates flawlessly, the transaction will succeed. Conversely, if the database encounters errors, the entire banking server may experience downtime.

4. Concurrent Access without Anomalies:

• In this context, "anomalies" refer to the ability of multiple users to access the database and retrieve information without encountering any issues.
• To better illustrate this concept, let’s consider the example of a bank once again. Suppose Sonu lends his ATM card to his sister, Archita, and instructs her to withdraw 5000 rupees from the ATM. Simultaneously, Sonu also transfers 2000 rupees to his brother, Monu. Both operations are successfully executed. Initially, Sonu had 10000 rupees in his bank account. After both the transfer and withdrawal transactions, when Sonu checks his bank balance, it correctly reflects 3000 rupees. This accurate updating of the bank balance is made possible by the concurrent feature of the database.
• Hence, we observe that concurrency is an excellent feature of the database, enabling multiple operations to be executed simultaneously without errors.

5. Stores Any Kind of Structured Data:

• The Database possesses the capacity to store data in a well-organized and structured format.
• While it is common to come across student database examples on various websites to facilitate comprehension, it is crucial to recognize that databases have the capability to store an unlimited amount of data.
• A significant characteristic of a Database Management System (DBMS) is its ability to store diverse types of real-world data in a structured manner.

6. Integrity:

• The term "integrity" in this context refers to the requirement for data to be accurate and consistent. Let’s illustrate this with an example.
• Consider a bank named ABC Bank that maintains its own database to store customer data. If an attempt is made to access account details in the database that do not exist within the bank’s records, the database will provide incorrect output. Similarly, if a customer changes their address but the updated information is not reflected in the database, it leads to data inconsistency.
• Therefore, it is essential for the data stored in the database to be both accurate and consistent. For instance, if a customer’s account balance is initially zero and they subsequently deposit 6000 rupees into their account, failure to update the new account balance in the database would cause significant problems for the customer.

7. Ease of Access (The DBMS Queries):

• Prior to the advent of DBMS, data was typically stored using a file and folder system.
• Locating a student’s name in such a system was a challenging task, as each search operation had to be performed manually. However, with the introduction of DBMS, accessing the database became significantly easier.
• Within a DBMS, any type of stored data can be effortlessly retrieved by executing a simple search operation query. This method of searching is much faster compared to manual search processes.
• Moreover, DBMS provides a set of CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) that allow for the implementation of various types of queries in the database.

8. SQL and No-SQL Databases:

• There exist two distinct types of databases, namely SQL and No-SQL, outside the scope of DBMS (Database Management System).
• SQL databases store data in the form of tables, utilizing rows and columns to structure the information. On the other hand, No-SQL databases can store data in various formats, not limited to tabular structures. For example, MongoDB, a widely used No-SQL database, stores data in JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) format.
• The availability of both SQL and No-SQL databases provides flexibility in choosing the appropriate method for data storage based on specific project requirements. It is important to note that there should not be a debate regarding SQL versus No-SQL databases. The suitability of each database type depends on the particular project or use case at hand.
• This flexibility is a characteristic of DBMS, as it enables users to perform operations and execute queries on both SQL and No-SQL databases.

9. ACID Properties:

• To maintain consistency within the database, DBMS adheres to a set of properties commonly referred to as ACID properties. It is essential to mention these properties in their entirety, as they play a vital role in ensuring the reliability of the database.
• ACID stands for Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability.
• We have previously discussed atomicity, which entails the requirement for a transaction to either be fully completed (100%) or not at all (0%). Consistency, on the other hand, ensures that any changes made to the data are reflected consistently throughout the entire database.
• Isolation refers to the capability of supporting multiple transactions to occur independently without interference from other transactions. Each transaction operates as if it is executing in isolation from others, even though they may be occurring concurrently.
• Durability signifies that once a transaction has been successfully completed and committed, its effects should persist in the database even in the event of subsequent failures or system crashes. The changes made by the transaction should be durable and remain intact.
• Together, these ACID properties work to maintain the integrity, reliability, and consistency of the database, ensuring the successful execution of transactions and data operations.

10. Security:

• The Database should provide limited access to its users, restricting their ability to make changes to the data and preventing unauthorized access.
• Access to the entire Database should not be granted to users, and their privileges should be limited based on their authorized roles.
• Authentication plays a crucial role in regulating user access within the DBMS. It ensures that users can log in with the appropriate credentials and are granted access only to the specific portions of the Database that they are authorized to access. For example, in an organization, the administrator may have access to modify the organization’s Database to accommodate changes such as new employee additions or departures. On the other hand, employees are granted access only to their individual profiles and are restricted from accessing the Database of other employees or the organization as a whole.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, a Database Management System (DBMS) possesses several important characteristics that contribute to its functionality and effectiveness. These characteristics include practicality, self-explanation, atomicity, concurrent access, data integrity, support for different database types (SQL and No-SQL), ACID properties, and limited user access. These features ensure that the DBMS can efficiently create, store, manipulate, and retrieve data while maintaining consistency, security, and accessibility.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Characteristics of DBMS:

Q1. What are the ACID properties in DBMS?
The ACID properties in DBMS stand for Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability. These properties ensure that database transactions are processed reliably, maintain data integrity, allow transactions to occur independently, and guarantee the durability of completed transactions.

Q2. What is the significance of atomicity in DBMS?
Atomicity ensures that a transaction in DBMS is either fully completed (100%) or not executed at all (0%). It prevents incomplete or partial transactions, maintaining the integrity and consistency of the database.

Q3. How does concurrent access benefit DBMS?
Concurrent access allows multiple users to access and manipulate the database simultaneously without interfering with each other. This enhances efficiency, reduces waiting time, and improves overall system performance.

Q4. What is the importance of data integrity in DBMS?
Data integrity in DBMS ensures that the data stored in the database is correct, consistent, and accurate. It prevents data inconsistencies, unauthorized modifications, and errors, maintaining the reliability and trustworthiness of the data.

Q5. Why is limited user access crucial in DBMS?
Limited user access is essential to safeguard the database from unauthorized access and ensure data security. It ensures that users have restricted privileges and can only access and modify data within their authorized scope, preventing unauthorized data manipulations or breaches.

Q6. How do SQL and No-SQL databases differ in DBMS?
SQL databases store data in tables with a structured format using rows and columns, while No-SQL databases can store data in various formats other than tables, such as JSON. SQL databases are ideal for structured data, while No-SQL databases are flexible and suitable for handling unstructured or semi-structured data.