Database management software is software that controls how a database is stored, organized, retrieved, and changed. It is usually called a database management system (DBMS). The database is the organized information; the DBMS manages it; and a database application is a program that interacts with it.
What does a DBMS do?
A DBMS provides a way to define how data is organized, store and retrieve it, and make changes without requiring users or applications to work directly with raw storage. Oracle’s Introduction to Oracle Database describes a DBMS as software that controls the storage, organization, and retrieval of data.
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Depending on the system, it may also provide tools for managing metadata, permissions, data integrity, simultaneous access by multiple users, backups, recovery, and performance. These are common responsibilities, but the exact features and their implementation vary by product.
Database, DBMS, and database application: what is the difference?
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Database | An organized collection of related information. |
| Database management system (DBMS) | Software that controls how the database is stored, organized, retrieved, and accessed. |
| Database application | A program that interacts with a database to access or manipulate its information. |
For example, a business application might let an employee look up a customer record. The application provides the user-facing interaction, while the DBMS manages the underlying data and responds to the application’s requests.
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Is database management software the same as SQL?
No. SQL is a language used by many database systems, especially relational ones, but it is not itself database management software. Nor does every DBMS necessarily organize information in tables or use SQL. Database systems can use different data models and interfaces; Oracle’s documentation, for example, also describes hierarchical and network database types.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What capabilities vary between DBMS products?
Products differ in how they structure data, how users and applications access it, and which management capabilities they provide. When evaluating a DBMS, relevant questions include its data model and query interface, deployment options, support for concurrent work and transactions, security controls, backup and recovery options, and fit for the intended workload. The term DBMS alone does not guarantee a particular capability or make one system suitable for every use.
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