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Databases
Database terminology
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Field | A block of data. When you have done some work on the computer it is stored in a file. |
Record | A collection of facts about one specific entry in a database. Information about a person in the telephone book is a record. |
Field | A specific category of data. The family name, address and telephone number in the telephone book are all fields. |
Character | The smallest unit of data that people can handle, and includes letters, numbers and special symbols. |
Data dictionary | Information about the characteristics of each item entered in the database, such as the field names, field sizes, data types and field descriptions |
Data type | The kind of data in the field:(text, number, currency, date, time, yes/no) |
Field size | The number of characters in each field. |
Primary key | A single key or compound key that must have a value: such as student number |
Table | Organises data into columns (fields) and rows (records). It will display more than one record. |
Sorting | The process of arranging data in a particular order: A - Z or 1 -10 |
Query | A search of a database for records that meet a certain condition. |
Report | Is the formatted and organised presentation of data. Examples of reports are mailing labels, invoices, sales summaries and telephone lists. |
Mail merge | Combines a letter written on a word processor with data from another type of file, such as a database |
Operators | Represents the action to be performed in the query. |
Logical operators | (AND, OR, NOT) are used to combine simple queries so that a search is carried out on one or more fields. |
Relational operators | (=, <>, <, >, <=, >=) are characters or symbols indicating the relationship between two expressions. |
DBMS | Database Management System like MS Access |
Form | It is used to view, enter and change data in a table. |
Data Integrity | The reliability or accuracy of data. |
Page header | Displays information such as a title, column headings or any other information needed at the top of every page. |
Page footer | Displays information such as the date, page number or any other information the user wants at the bottom of every page. |
Structured Query Language | A specialised language designed to allow users to access information from the database: (SQL) |
Searching | The process of examining a database to retrieve or find data. |