Chapter : 9

QS -1 Understanding Data, Informa on, and Database [5 marks]

1. What is Data?

Data refers to raw, unprocessed facts or figures that lack context or meaning. It is the basic input
collected from various sources and is usually represented in numbers, text, symbols, images, or
sounds.

Characteris cs of Data:

 Unstructured or semi-structured in its raw form.

 Lacks context or interpreta on.

 Serves as the founda on for genera ng informa on.

Examples of Data:

 Names, ages, and addresses of individuals.

 Sales numbers such as "150," "200," and "300."

 Sensor readings like "35°C" or "75% humidity."

2. What is Informa on?

Informa on is processed, structured, or organized data that has been given context and meaning. It
is the output derived from analyzing and interpre ng data to make it useful for decision-making or
communica on.

Characteris cs of Informa on:

 Derived from data through processing or analysis.

 Organized in a meaningful way.

 Useful for understanding, communica on, or decision-making.

Examples of Informa on:

 A report sta ng "Sales increased by 10% this quarter compared to the previous quarter."

 A student's grade report showing subject-wise performance.

 A weather forecast predic ng rain based on temperature and humidity data.

Rela on Between Data and Informa on:

 Data: Raw numbers like "100, 150, 200."

 Informa on: "The average sales for the past three months is 150 units."
3. What is a Database?

A database is an organized collec on of data stored and managed electronically, allowing for easy
access, retrieval, and manipula on. It serves as the backbone of data storage and processing systems
in modern compu ng.

Key Features of a Database:

 Structured Storage: Stores data in tables with rows (records) and columns (fields).

 Data Integrity: Maintains accuracy and consistency through rules like primary keys and
foreign keys.

 Query Capability: Enables data retrieval using tools like SQL (Structured Query Language).

 Data Security: Controls user access to protect sensi ve informa on.

 Scalability: Handles large volumes of data and supports concurrent users.

Types of Databases:

1. Rela onal Databases (RDBMS): Data is stored in tables with rela onships. Example: MySQL,
PostgreSQL.

2. NoSQL Databases: Stores unstructured or semi-structured data. Example: MongoDB,

Cassandra.

3. Cloud Databases: Managed on cloud pla orms. Example: Google Cloud Firestore, AWS
DynamoDB.

Examples of Databases:

 E-commerce Database: Stores customer details, product informa on, and transac on
history.

 Library Database: Manages book inventory, member details, and borrowing records.

 Healthcare Database: Tracks pa ent informa on, medical history, and appointments.

Rela onship Between Data, Informa on, and Database:

1. Data is the Input:

Raw facts collected from various sources are entered into the database.

2. Database Organizes and Stores Data:

The database provides a structured way to store, manage, and retrieve data efficiently.

3. Informa on is the Output:

Data from the database is processed and analyzed to generate meaningful insights.
QS – 2 Data Model in Databases [5 Marks]

A data model is a conceptual framework that defines how data is organized, structured, and
represented in a database. It provides the founda on for designing, storing, and managing data in a
consistent and efficient manner.

Importance of Data Models

1. Data Organiza on: Defines how data is structured and related.

2. Ease of Understanding: Offers a clear representa on of the database structure for

developers and users.

3. Standardiza on: Ensures consistency in how data is stored and accessed.

4. Facilitates Database Design: Serves as a blueprint for crea ng a database.

5. Improved Data Integrity: Enforces rules and constraints to maintain accurate and reliable
data.

Types of Data Models

1. Conceptual Data Model

 Focus: High-level view of the data and its rela onships.

 Audience: Business stakeholders and system architects.

 Purpose: To understand the structure of the data without worrying about implementa on
details.

Example:

En es like Student, Course, and Teacher with rela onships such as "enrolled in" or "teaches."

2. Logical Data Model

 Focus: Detailed structure of the data, including a ributes and rela onships.

 Audience: Database designers and developers.

 Purpose: To define the schema of the database without focusing on specific database
management systems (DBMS).

 Features:

o Defines en es, a ributes, and primary/foreign keys.

o Normaliza on is o en applied to reduce redundancy.

Example:

A Student table with a ributes like Student_ID, Name, and DOB.

3. Physical Data Model

 Focus: Implementa on details of how data is stored in a specific DBMS.

 Audience: Database administrators and system implementers.

 Purpose: To op mize database performance and storage.

 Features:

o Specifies storage formats, indexes, and database tables.

o Includes details like data types, constraints, and access paths.

Example:

A Student table in MySQL with columns defined as Student_ID (INT PRIMARY KEY) and Name
(VARCHAR(50)).

Types of Database Data Models

1. Hierarchical Model

 Organizes data in a tree-like structure with parent-child rela onships.

 Example:

o A company database where a Department is the parent and Employees are children.

Advantages:

 Simple to understand.

 Efficient for one-to-many rela onships.

Disadvantages:

 Rigidity in structure.

 Complex to modify.

2. Network Model

 Represents data using a graph structure where records are nodes, and rela onships are
edges.

 Example:

o A project database where Projects can be linked to mul ple Employees, and
employees can work on mul ple projects.

Advantages:

 Flexible rela onships.

  Suitable for complex data rela onships.

Disadvantages:

 Difficult to design and maintain.

3. Rela onal Model

 Stores data in tables (rela ons) with rows and columns.

 Example:

o A Customer table linked to an Orders table via Customer_ID.

Advantages:

 Easy to use and understand.

 Supports powerful querying through SQL.

Disadvantages:

 Performance may degrade with very large datasets.

4. Object-Oriented Model

 Combines database concepts with object-oriented programming.

 Example:

o A database where a Vehicle object has a ributes like Make and Model and methods
like Start() or Stop().

Advantages:

 Supports complex data types.

 Integrates well with object-oriented programming languages.

Disadvantages:

 Less popular and complex to implement.

Key Components of a Data Model

1. En es: Objects or concepts, such as Student or Product.

2. A ributes: Proper es of en es, like Name, Age, or Price.

3. Rela onships: Links between en es, such as "enrolled in" or "purchased."

4. Constraints: Rules to ensure data integrity, such as unique values or required fields.