Different Database Types
A DBMS can support many different types of databases. There exist different database types according to the number of users, the database location(s), and the expected type and extent of use.
Different Types of Databases
1. Different Database Types: Depending On Number of Users
The number of users determines whether the database is classified as single-user or multiuser.
Single User Database:
A single-user database supports only one user at a time. In other words, if user A is using the database, users B and C must wait until user A is done. A single-user database that runs on a personal computer is called a desktop database.
Multi User Database:
A multiuser database supports multiple users at the same time. When the multiuser database supports a relatively small number of users (usually fewer than 50) or a specific department within an organization, it is called a workgroup database. When the database is used by the entire organization and supports many users (more than 50, usually hundreds) across many departments, the database is known as an enterprise database.
2. Different Database Types: Depending on Database location:
Location might also be used to classify the database. For example, a database that supports data located at a single site is called a centralized database. A database that supports data distributed across several different sites is called a distributed database.
3. Different Database Types: Based on type of use
The most popular way of classifying databases today, however, is based on how they will be used and on the time sensitivity of the information gathered from them. For example, transactions such as product or service sales, payments, and supply purchases reflect critical day-to-day operations. Such transactions must be recorded accurately and immediately. A database that is designed primarily to support a company’s day-to-day operations is classified as an operational database (sometimes referred to as a transactional or production database).
In contrast, a data warehouse focuses primarily on storing data used to generate information required to make tactical or strategic decisions. Such decisions typically require extensive “data massaging” (data manipulation) to extract information to formulate pricing decisions, sales forecasts, market positioning, and so on.
4. Different Database Types: Based on Structure
Databases can also be classified to reflect the degree to which the data are structured.
Unstructured data are data that exist in their original (raw) state, that is, in the format in which they were collected. Therefore, unstructured data exist in a format that does not lend itself to the processing that yields information.
Structured data are the result of taking unstructured data and formatting (structuring) such data to facilitate storage, use, and the generation of information. You apply structure (format) based on the type of processing that you intend to perform on the data.
Some data might not be ready (unstructured) for some types of processing, but they might be ready (structured) for other types of processing. For example, the data value 37890 might refer to a zip code, a sales value, or a product code. If this value represents a zip code or a product code and is stored as text, you cannot perform mathematical computations with it. On the other hand, if this value represents a sales transaction, it is necessary to format it as numeric.
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