Database Management System

Definition

Database Management System (DBMS)

a software tool that is used to store data in a database

Classification

As illustrated in the preceding figure, Database Management System is part of the following inheritance hierarchy:

• Type: Concrete
• Superclass: Tool
• Subclasses: None
• Example Instances:
  • DB2
  • Oracle
  • Sybase
  • Versant

Responsibilities

The typical responsibilities of a Database Management System are to support database:

• Specify the format of data (i.e., database schema) in a database.
• Store data in a database.
• Modify data in a database.
• Obtain data from a database.
• Delete data from a database.

Guidelines

• The terms object, extended relational, relational, network, hierarchical, and flat all refer to the way a DBMS organizes information internally.