Week 1
1.4 What is a Database?
A database is a shared collection of logically related data and a description of this data, designed to meet the information needs of an organisation.
Key aspects of this definition:
1. SHARED: Multiple users and applications access the same data
2. LOGICALLY RELATED: Data is organised to reflect real-world relationships
3. DESCRIBED: The database includes metadata (data about the data) called the schema
4. ORGANISED: Data is structured for efficient storage and retrieval
EXAMPLES OF DATABASES IN NIGERIA:
|
Organisation |
Database Content |
|
NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) |
Oil well locations, production data, pipeline maintenance records, revenue |
|
FRSC (Federal Road Safety Corps) |
Driver licence records, vehicle registrations, accident reports |
|
WAEC (West African Examinations Council) |
Student registrations, examination results, school accreditation records |
|
Flutterwave |
Merchant accounts, transaction records, payment routes, exchange rates |
|
Nigerian Prison Service |
Inmate records, sentence information, release schedules |