Someone who spends a lot of time on the internet interacts multiple times with databases. Databases are used to support everything from banking software to government data and scientific research, as well as websites like Amazon, Flipkart, Facebook, Netflix, and Wikipedia that most people visit every day. There are multiple benefits of databases, and in this blog, we will make you aware of them.
The database makes information storage, modification, and retrieval easier. If you came across this page using an Internet search engine, your query was applied to a very huge database.
Moreover, databases aren’t just for large websites with millions of daily visitors; they may also be utilized by tiny enterprises or a small group of individuals. The reason databases are so popular for both large and small use cases is that they make accessing information with a computer a lot simpler. Before going deeper into the benefits of databases, let us see what a database is.
What Is A Database?
A database is a logically structured collection of data to access and manage data or information conveniently. We have Local databases which reside within our tablets, laptop, and mobile phones. And also remote databases, which are hosted offsite and online on cloud servers. The information included in these databases is accessible over the internet. Almost every app and website on the Internet stores its data in remote databases.
Let’s look at an example of a database: An online telephone directory keeps track of phone numbers, persons, addresses, and other contact information in a database. A company employs a database to keep track of client issues, invoices, leaves, etc.
We can also take the example of Facebook. It store, alter and display information on users, their friends, messages, member activities, adverts, and much more. We can give you a lot of examples of how databases may be used.
Types of Databases
Before understanding the benefits of databases, you must be aware of the types of databases. Here is the list of the most important types of databases-
- Cloud Database – Database service that is built and accessed through a cloud platform.
- Centralized Database- Database stored, maintained at a single location. These databases are accessed using the Internet, i.e., LAN, MAN, etc.
- Distributed Database- Multiple databases linked together and spread across various locations.
- Commercial Database- Databases that are created for commercial purposes.
- OLTP Database- It is an Online Transaction Processing database that processes day-to-day transactions such as inserting, updating, deleting, and retrieving data.
- NoSQL Database- NoSQL databases are nonrelational databases that store data in non-tabular form.
- Graph Database- Graph databases are built to save and navigate relationships.
- Object-oriented Database- Data is represented in the form of objects and classes.
Benefits Of Databases
Here is the list of top benefits of databases-
Improves Data Sharing And Productivity
When the data is stored in a database through a database management system, users have easier access to a wide range of information in one location. As a result, people can react quickly and make better judgments.
Marketers, for example, will have more access to consumer data, allowing them to understand customers better and respond quickly to changes in their requirements or market preferences.
As a consequence, the marketers and the rest of the end-users become more productive. Therefore, a database enables you to make faster and better decisions that will help your organization succeed.
Unauthorized Access Restrictions
Database management software allows you to decide who has access to the database’s data, including who may read it, contribute to it, and remove it. The data administrator can configure various access privileges for different users. Furthermore, DBMS allows data to be encrypted, which is essential if the company stores personal or other sensitive data. Data privacy is enhanced by limiting data access.
No Redundancy
Prevention of data redundancy is one of the best benefits of databases. A database management system (DBMS) eliminates redundancy and prevents data duplication, saving storage space and speeding up access times. Instead of having several copies of the same data for each firm employee, DBMS enables centralized storage of all data, allowing for more efficient storage space.
Ensures Data Consistency
Data consistency is another benefit of databases. Each data item in a database is only stored once, and it removes the possibility that the item will be updated on one system but not on another. It guarantees that the data is consistent. Data consistency is critical for organizations, especially if they collect data in various ways or employ numerous internal and external data collecting techniques. The foundation for good data-driven decision-making is data consistency. Data that is inconsistent might lead to poor business decisions.
Support Multiple Views Of Data
A database allows for many data views. A view is just a subset of the database that has been established and dedicated to specific users. Various users in the system may have a different view of the system, and each view may only include data relevant to a specific person or set of users.
Backup And Recovery
Data loss is a significant issue for every organization, and data security is an excellent benefit of databases. In a typical file system, you must back up your data regularly or manually. This procedure may take a long time if the amount of data is large. This issue is resolved by using a database management system like DBMS, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Microsoft Access, etc. Most DBMSs contain advanced features that allow for automated database backup and recovery in the case of a failure. They ensure that all of your data is automatically backed up after predetermined intervals.
Decision Making
A Database management system provides quick access to data which helps in better, faster decisions in the day-to-day operations.
Conclusion
In this blog, we have discussed the top benefits of databases in detail. We have also mentioned what a database is and the types of databases.
Every day we use databases in some way or another. Whether we have to book a seat on a train, listen to favorite music, or check the result on a website, we use databases. Hopefully, by reading this blog, you have got enough information about the benefits of databases.
Moreover, if you need any Database homework help, you can discuss your requirements with our experts anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are databases used in everyday life?
Databases are beneficial for storing, altering, and retrieving data efficiently. Databases are used in retail, banks, websites, warehouses, etc. Banks keep track of their customer accounts, deposits, and balances by using databases. Retail stores use them to store customer information, goods prices, sales information, product quantity, etc. Websites use databases to manage passwords, user information, images, etc.
What are the five characteristics of a good database?
The Five main characteristics of a good database are-
-Self-describing nature of a database system
-Unauthorized access
-Support for multiple data views
-Data redundancy control
-Data sharing