Data Bases

Abstract

In Chapter 2 we identified three types of objects to be processed. These are data, information, and knowledge. Data were defined as the smallest elements that could be processed, information was described as sets of data organized to assist in decision-making, and knowledge was presented as the rules for creating information from data and information. Given this orientation, we now may define a database as a collection of data, organized as information, using a structure derived from a knowledge of its potential use. This implies that we must address how the data are stored physically, how they are organized to present useful information, and finally, what rules are used to establish a database design. These are the topics of the next three sections.