What is a DBMS (Database Management System)?

Have you ever wondered what a Database Management System (DBMS) is and why they're so important? It's no secret that they play a pivotal role in many businesses, entire industries and even governments.

In this blog post, we'll take a detailed look into what a DBMS is about — exploring the components, different types of systems and their unique use cases, and their advantages.

Do read on for a full detailed guide.

What Is a Database Management System (DBMS)?

A Database Management System (DBMS) is a software system that allows users to create, define, manipulate and manage databases. It provides a way for organizations to store, organize and retrieve large amounts of data quickly and efficiently in an organized manner.

Think of it as an electronic filing cabinet that can store lots of different types of files and can help you quickly find and access the information you need. DBMSs help:

• Enforce data integrity.
• Maintain security.
• Make it easier to manage and analyze data.

(Know the difference between data management & data governance.)

Components of a DBMS

A DBMS is made up of several components that work together to ensure the efficient use and management of data. At its core, we can summarize six components:

1. Hardware

This refers to the physical devices, including the computer itself, that are used to store the data. Some examples of hardware used in a DBMS include:

• Computer
• Hard disks
• I/O channels

2. Software

The software component of a DBMS refers to the computer programs used to manage the database.This could include the DBMS itself or supporting software like drivers or utilities.

Simply put, the software is a layer that is supported by the hardware to create a visual interface for the user to interact with to control the database.

3. Data

The data generated by an organization is the lifeblood of a DBMS. Data is the resource that is stored within a database.

Metadata, which is information about the data, is stored within a DBMS as well. This information provides some context about the data and helps to ensure that it is maintained, secured and accessed correctly. For example, metadata could include information like the type of data, its size, and the time it was created.

4. Procedures

DBMS procedures are the guidelines that dictate how the database is set up and should be used. These procedures govern how data is accessed, modified and archived. In simple words, these are the instructions on how a DBMS should be used.

(Related reading: stored procedures for databases.)

5. Database access query language

When accessing a database, users must use a specific query language that the DBMS understands. These languages can be generally split into four categories:

1. Data definition language (DDL)
2. Data manipulation language (DML)
3. Data control language (DCL)
4. Transaction control language (TCL)

These languages play a part in searching, fetching, updating and adding data to the database. Without the use of languages, the database cannot be accessed easily through interfaces.  

Common query languages include:

• Structured Query Language (SQL)
• Object Query Language (OQL)
• XQuery
• GraphQL

6. Users

Users are the people who access the database. Depending on their level within the organization, users might access different parts of the database and use different software tools to interact with the data.

Some examples of users include:

• Database Administrators (DBAs) create the database and set up access permissions.
• Data Analysts analyze data in the database to gain insights and make decisions.
• Software developers write programs that interact with the database.

(Explore the data analyst role & top data analytics certifications to earn.)

Types of DBMS

Now let’s look at the different types of database management systems.

Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS)

Relational Database Management Systems are the most common type of DBMS. It stores data in the form of related tables and uses Structured Query Language (SQL) to manipulate and access data.

Organizations use RDBMS to store large amounts of structured data, such as customer information or product inventory. This type of DBMS is the most commonly used because of its ease of use and flexibility. Data is stored in tables, and keys are used to manage relationships between tables. Examples of RDBMS include:

• MySQL
• Oracle
• Microsoft SQL Server

RDBMSs are ideal for handling data that is well-organized and fits neatly into a predefined schema. This makes them perfect for the following use cases:

• Inventory records
• Invoice lists
• Patient visit entries

NoSQL DBMS

Up next, another popular system used by many companies is the NoSQL database management system. NoSQL stands for "not only SQL," indicating that it does not follow the traditional relational database model.

This type of DBMS is specifically designed to handle large amounts of unstructured or semi-structured data, such as social media data, sensor data from the Internet of Things (IoT) and documents. Unlike relational databases, NoSQL databases do not follow a fixed table structure, which helps provide high scalability and flexibility.

Examples of NoSQL DBMS include:

• MongoDB
• Cassandra
• Couchbase

NoSQL databases can also be further split into several categories:

1. Document-Based. These databases store data as documents (e.g., JSON, BSON), making them ideal for document-oriented applications.
2. Key-Value. Key-value stores store data in a simple key-value pair, speeding up data retrieval times and reducing the overhead associated with relational databases.
3. Column-Family. A column-family or wide column is a column that can store a list of values. This model is well suited for storing large amounts of data that require faster retrieval times.
4. Graph-Based. Graph databases are designed for experienced developers and data scientists. They store data in the form of nodes and edges, each of which has a unique identifier. These databases are ideal for complex data relationships with many-to-many relationships.

Common use cases include:

• Using real-time big data collection and analysis for IoT devices
• Analyzing geospatial data in e-commerce

Object-Oriented DBMS (OODBMS)

An Object-Oriented DBMS stores data in objects which resemble object-oriented methodologies with database capabilities. These databases can store complex data structures, allowing developers to focus more on the objects than the underlying database structure.

Since they do not follow a structured relational format, these databases are also considered NoSQL databases. Examples include:

• Versant
• Objectivity/DB

Common use cases include:

• Managing product lifecycle in software development
• Realtime processing of data relationships in telecommunications

Hierarchical DBMS

The Hierarchical Model was the first database management system model to be used in databases. This type of DBMS organizes data into a tree-like structure, which is useful for managing data with a parent-child relationship. It is characterized by its fast response times and efficient data retrieval.

Its limitation is that hierarchical databases cannot be used for applications where data relationships are more complex than a strict parent-child relationship.

Examples include:

• IBM's Information Management System (IMS)
• Windows Registry

Common use cases include banking transactions, inventory management and medical records systems.

Network DBMS

One other popular type of DBMS is the Network database. In a network DBMS, data records are represented as nodes in a network, and each node can have several links to other nodes. These links represent relationships between the data records.

This model allows applications to navigate between different levels of records and support complex data relationships. Its strength is its ability to handle many-to-many relationships, which is useful for applications such as social media networks.

Examples of network DBMS include:

• Integrated Data Store (IDS)
• Integrated Database Management System (IDMS)

Some use cases of these database management systems include:

• Banking. Network DBMS can support core banking services like withdrawals, deposits, transfers and user management.
• Airline reservations. In airline reservation systems, network DBMS can be used to store flight schedules, booking information and seat allocation information.
• Governments. Federal and state governments can use network DBMS to manage complex data structures, such as census data, real estate records and tax records.

Advantages of Using a DBMS

Using a Database Management System (DBMS) can bring several benefits to an organization. Here are some of the main advantages of a DBMS:

Improved data integrity

A DBMS helps to ensure the integrity of data stored in the database by validating and enforcing rules on how it is entered and stored.

For example, a DBMS may check for errors such as duplicate entries or data types that don’t match.

Stronger data security & access control

A DBMS helps to protect the data from unauthorized access, manipulation and theft. It also allows different levels of access to users depending on their role in the organization.

Backup & recovery

The DBMS provides an easy way to back up and restore the database if it ever gets corrupted or lost. This helps to ensure that no data is permanently lost due to a system failure.

Scalability

DBMSs are designed to scale to support larger amounts of data and a growing number of users.

This makes it possible for organizations to start small and grow over time without needing to retool their data infrastructure every time they reach a specific size.

Final thoughts

Database Management Systems (DBMS) are essential tools for businesses as they help to store and manage data efficiently. There are several different types of DBMSs, each with its own strengths and use cases.

Using a DBMS can provide an organization with several advantages, including improved data integrity, more robust security and access control mechanisms, better backup and recovery capabilities, and scalability.

Therefore, businesses have to consider their needs carefully when deciding which type of DBMS to use.