Database Meaning
Database Definition & Usage
A structured set of data held in a computer or server, typically organized in tables, columns, and rows, making it accessible for retrieval and manipulation.
Examples
- "The company stores all its customer data in a secure database."
- "She queried the database to retrieve the most recent sales figures."
- "We need to update the database to include the latest user information."
- "The database allows for quick search and retrieval of product details."
- "His project was about optimizing databases for faster data retrieval."
A collection of organized information or records stored and managed in a digital or physical form for easy reference.
Examples
- "The library maintains a database of all the books available."
- "The research team has compiled a comprehensive database of clinical trials."
- "She added new entries to the database to improve the accuracy of the inventory."
- "The government has a database of all registered voters."
- "Every student’s grades are stored in a central database for easy access."
Cultural Context
Databases have become an essential tool in modern computing and information management, enabling businesses, governments, and organizations to store, retrieve, and manage vast amounts of data. As technology advances, so does the complexity of database systems, with cloud computing and big data analytics becoming significant trends in data storage and management.
The Search for the Missing Records
Story
The Search for the Missing Records
One late afternoon, Sarah sat at her desk, staring at the screen in front of her. Her task was simple: find the missing financial records from last year. She had been working at the company for five years, but today, the database was not behaving as usual. It was supposed to be easy to query – a simple search for the transaction records. But the system kept throwing errors. She sighed, remembering the last time the database had been upgraded. 'If only we had a more reliable system,' she muttered to herself. Her colleague, Jake, overheard her and approached. 'What's the issue?' Sarah explained how the database was not pulling the correct data. 'I’ve been trying to search for last year’s transactions, but it’s either returning nothing or showing the wrong entries. I need those records to finalize the year-end report.' Jake sat down and started typing furiously on the keyboard. 'This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this. The database must have an error in the query processing.' He paused and continued, 'I think I’ll need to update the database schema to fix this.' As Jake worked, Sarah thought about how much their daily work relied on the database. Every piece of data, from client information to sales transactions, was stored there. The database wasn’t just a tool – it was the backbone of the company’s operations. Finally, after hours of troubleshooting, Jake fixed the issue. 'All set,' he said. 'I ran the database optimization script. You should be able to pull the data now.' Sarah, relieved, quickly ran the query again. This time, the records appeared correctly. 'Perfect!' she said. She was able to finalize the report and send it to management just in time. In a way, this minor hiccup in their database had reminded Sarah of the importance of their digital data management. Every piece of information they worked with had to be properly stored, organized, and maintained. Whether it was financial records, employee data, or customer transactions, their database had to be efficient and reliable. Without it, their company could not function. As Sarah left the office that night, she smiled to herself. 'It’s not just about finding the right data,' she thought. 'It’s about understanding how the database makes it all possible.'
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