[ Thanks to LinuxLinks for this link.
]
“A relational database matches data using common
characteristics found within the data set. The resulting groups of
data are organized and are much easier for people to understand. In
such a database the data and relations between them are organised
in tables. A table is a collection of records and each record in a
table contains the same fields. Certain fields may be designated as
keys, which means that searches for specific values of that field
will use indexing to speed them up.“The term relational database was originally defined by Edgar
Codd, a British computer scientist, whilst working at IBM Almaden
Research Center. He recognised that the concept of a relational
database could be derived from the principles of relational algebra
and relational calculus.“A Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) is a Database
Management System (DBMS) that is based on the relational model.
Most database systems today are based on this type of system.“A database is a vital system for any organisation that stores
mission critical information. The continual failure of a company’s
database system can only lead to the demise of the organisation –
companies cannot do business without a working database system.
“