Data is a collection of information that includes text, numbers, and media, all of which can be organized in databases. These are controlled by database management systems (DBMS) that act as an interface between users and databases and manage data, database engines and schemas. They are used in both shared and .
DBMSs optimize data organization through a database schema technique called normalization. As a result, large data tables are broken into smaller parts to minimize redundancies and dependencies.
DBMS also support concurrent access, which allows multiple users to interact with a database at the same time while maintaining data integrity.
What is a database management system (DBMS)
A database management system (DBMS) is software used to manage, store, and retrieve databases. Provides an interface that allows users to read, create, delete, and update data.
DBMS work through system commands. By entering a command, the database administrator gives instructions to retrieve, modify, or load existing data.
DBMSs are usually made up of several integrated components that perform data management tasks:
- storage engine. It is the core element of a DBMS that interacts with the file system at the operating system level.
- query language. Examples: Structured Query Language (SQL) and MongoDB Query Language (MQL), both used to interact with databases.
- query processor. It interprets the user’s commands and makes the commands understandable to the database.
- Query Optimizer. Provides ideas for improving database and query performance.
- Metadata Catalog. It acts as a repository for database objects. Every time an object is created, it is recorded here. The catalog is used to verify user requests and provide details about the database structure.
- record manager. This component logs user activity, logins, backups, and other actions performed with the DBMS.
Reporting and monitoring tools. These utilities generate reports and monitor the use of DBMS resources. - data utilities. Additional tools that perform backup and recovery, data validation, database repair, and data integrity checking on your or shared data.
In this article, we will review the types of DBMS and discuss five of the most popular systems along with their features.
Types of Database Management Systems
DBMSs are classified based on database distribution, data model, and number of users supported. The following are the three main types:
Relational database management system (SGBDR)
Relational database management systems have easy-to-use interfaces and use structured data in the form of a table with predefined relationships. To interact with databases, RDBMS use SQL.
These are the distinguishing features of a RDBMS:
- Structure. The data is structured in tabular format.
- Users. The SGBDR admit that several users manage them at the same time.
- programs. The RGBMS control the relationships between the built-in data tables.
- Data. RDBMS can handle large amounts of data.
- Distributed Databases. The RDBMS support distributed databases, while the DBMS do not.
- data redundancy. RDBMS have keys and indexes to avoid data redundancy. In comparison, DBMSs do not usually have these characteristics.
Document database management system
Document database management systems organize data in JSON-type files with virtually no relational structure. They typically use the MongoDB query language for database operations, including reading and writing.
Columnar Database Management System
Columnar database management systems manage databases in columnar format for high performance. These provide fast analytical processing as they read the data efficiently. Therefore, companies that have a lot of data on disk often use these systems.
Knowing the most popular DBMS
In this section, we’ll go over five of the most popular DBMSs and discuss the features that set them apart.
mysql
is a relational database management system based on SQL and client-server architecture. It is one of the most widely used DBMS as it is compatible with various computing platforms including Linux, Windows and macOS distributions. MySQL also supports C, C++, Java, Perl, PHP, Python, and Ruby.
MySQL is a RDBMS. This means that it uses the tabular format to organize the data and maintains the relationships between the elements.
Because MySQL is open source, anyone can modify, distribute, and release it under the terms of the GNU General Public License. However, you need to purchase the licensed version to integrate or embed MySQL code in commercial applications.
Yes, you may find useful phpMyAdmin, a free web application that makes it easy to manage MySQL with an intuitive interface. Feel free to check out our .
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL is an open source enterprise database management system that supports SQL for relational queries and JSON for non-relational queries. Its main users are developers and database administrators who use it to develop applications, protect data integrity and establish fault-tolerant environments. PostgreSQL code is freely available under an open source license.
With PostgreSQL, you can determine data types, create custom functions, and write code in different programming languages without having to recompile your databases. The system will compile the data in a catalog format, using tables and columns and adding information about access methods and functions.
PostgreSQL works on all major operating systems, including most Unix and Linux distributions, Windows, and macOS. It also supports various programming languages including Python, Ruby, Java, C, C++, and Perl. If you want to install it on your Linux VPS, check out our guide to .
MongoDB
It is a document database system not only SQL (NoSQL) that collects information in collections and documents. Notable features of MongoDB include unstructured data storage, full indexing support, and replication via APIs.
MongoDB supports schema-less databases that can consist of a single collection with multiple documents. The data within a database does not necessarily have to have defined relationships. Due to its nature, MongoDB is best for large projects containing millions of documents.
MongoDB is free software under the Server Side Public License (SSPL). It works with many programming languages, including Node.js, PHP, Engine, Scala, Swift, and C#. MongoDB can run on all major operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS.
Cassandra Database
Cassandra is another NoSQL distributed database management system. It stands out for its scalability that allows users to add more nodes and machines to increase its computing power. This makes Cassandra great for working with large amounts of data.
Cassandra distributes databases by replicating your data across multiple cloud data centers. It implements Amazon’s Dynamo-style distributed storage techniques and Google’s Big Table data model, making the system highly available with no single point of failure. For this reason, many large companies such as Instagram, Spotify and Twitter use Cassandra to manage their databases.
Cassandra supports structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data formats that can be changed at any time. Additionally, the database system is open source and runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS.
oracle database
According to , Oracle is the most popular DBMS. It is a SGBDR with an architecture divided between logical and physical structures. One of the most prominent features of the Oracle Database is enterprise network computing that employs modular physical storage and servers that can be sized by users.
Oracle is based on a memory cache architecture that ensures maximum performance for very large databases. Includes the Recovery Manager (RMAN) tool, which ensures data integrity by performing hot, cold, and incremental database backups and recoveries.
Oracle is committed to open technology, so you can freely use, embed, and distribute its code. It runs on all popular operating systems including Linux, Unix, Windows, and macOS. The database system supports C, C++, Java, COBOL, PL/SQL, and Visual Basic languages for database application development.
conclusion
A database management system is software that manages, executes, and retrieves queries and data. DBMS serve as an interface between users and a database, allowing users to work with information while maintaining data integrity.
We have already discussed the three main types of DBMS: relational, documentary, and columnar.
These are the five most popular DBMS that we have covered in this article:
- mysql. A relational database that stores data in the form of a table.
- PostgreSQL. A relational database that allows you to customize data types and functions.
- MongoDB. A document database system that converts JSON data into a binary file format.
- Cassandra Database. A distributed database system that replicates data across multiple machines.
- oracle database. A relational database that divides physical and logical structures into its system architecture.
We hope that this article has helped you understand what DBMS are. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.
Betania is a copywriter with a passion for digital marketing and website creation. She writes tutorials and performs SEO analysis on ‘s Content team. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, singing or watching a good classic movie.
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