Database refers to the systematic collection of records that may be of interest to people at large. The term "Database" though originated within the computer industry but popular usage has extended its application to other industries as well.
The records are arranged into data elements structured as schema which when queried by a program/ script, present to thevisitor, information from the available records.
The schema may be organized as multiple tables with columns, rows and related values, as in the most commonly used "relational model", based on predicate logic and set theory by Edgar F. Codd in 1970. Other relatively common database models are hierarchical model, flat model, dimensional model, object database models and network models.
Present day products use close approximation of Relational Model where tables contain multiple rows and columns, that can be ordered and relations expressed using keys in each of those. Databases use indexing feature to increase their speed by means of 'B-trees', 'hashes' or 'linked list' techniques.
Most Database Management Systems or DBMS, in addition to data model, use database transactional model with desirable integrity properties commonly referred to as "ACID rules" including Atomicity (transaction tasks performed based on 'All or None law'), Consistency, Isolation (two simultaneous transactions do not interfere) and Durability.
Concurrency control and locking ensures safer sharing of data or transaction as per ACID rules thereby preventing overlap of data and subsequent errors.
Databases are used in wide array of computer software, scripts and related sites. They are the obvious choice for storage of information and data, where multi-user coordination is required. Databases are used by electronic mail program, shopping carts, directories, organizers and many more.
Application software use common APIs (Application Programming Interface) like ODBC, JDBC to query information stored in database. Databases sell like hot cakes and are used by programmers, webmasters for their projects or sites. In days to come, the scope and use of database can only be expected to increase.
