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OCR Cambridge Nationals in ICT (Level 1/2). R004 Handling Data Using Databases. What is a database?. The database is probably the most widely used computer program. It is like an electronic filing cabinet.
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OCR Cambridge Nationals in ICT (Level 1/2) R004 Handling Data Using Databases
What is a database? The database is probably the most widely used computer program. It is like an electronic filing cabinet. The benefit of storing data electronically is the ability to search and retrieve information in the blink of eye.
Databases This information is often available to multiple employees, allowing them to quickly search for information. Databases could be anything from a small list of customer names and addresses to an index of the entire product range of a global company.
Databases and you Data about you will have been stored on a database since the day you were born. Some examples of databases that could contain your information are: • Register Office (Births) • National Health Service • Banks • Mobile Phone companies.
Websites Sites like YouTube and MetaCafe use databases to store their video libraries. Many websites often use a ‘back-end’ database to store website elements in a content management system, such as Joomla. Larger sites such as Amazon use databases to store and index all of the items they sell.
Games The games industry use databases in their game engines to allow the programmers to build game worlds, choose from options and add characters. On mobile devices, many game apps link to a database in order to rank the top players.
Interrogating The ability to be able to search through large amounts of data quickly and easily is one of the main advantagesof database software. Finding two or three records from a store of millions can be done in a few seconds and saves businesses time and money as well as adding to employee efficiency.
Reporting Database software not only allows the user to add, store, edit and find information; they also allow the user to report information in the form of reports and graphs. This means lists, tables and searches can be presented in an easy to read format for presenting to a manager.
You will learn… How to search a database using complex queries. How to modify data in existing databases. How to create input forms and menus. How to test the data for accuracy and produce reports. How to use validation rules to prevent data errors. How to choose and set data types.
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