Database Systems: Concepts, Design and Applications

1.2. Basic Concepts and Definitions

With the growing use of computers, the organisations are fast migrating from a manual system to a computerised information system for which the data within the organisation is a basic resource. Therefore, proper organisation and management of data is necessary to run the organisation efficiently. The efficient use of data for planning, production control, marketing, invoicing, payroll, accounting and other function in an organisation have a major impact for its competitive edge. In this section, formal definition of the terms used in databases is provided.

1.2.1. Data

Data may be defined as a known fact that can be recorded and that have implicit meaning. Data are raw or isolated facts from which the required ...