Database Characteristics

These characteristics distinguish DB from File-processing approach:
n Self-Describing Nature of DB
Catalog to hold description(Data + Meta-data to describe the DB)
n Insulation between Programs and Data
program-data independence , program-operation independence
Data abstraction
n Support Multiple Views of Data
Multiple derived views – Virtual views
n Sharing Data and Multiuser Transaction Processing
Concurrency control for OLTP (On-Line Transaction Processing
those are the major properties for the databases from my opinion

People involved in DB

n Database Administrator (DBA)
DBA administrates DB, DBMS, applications, user accessing authorization, monitoring and tuning.
n Database Designers
DB designers identify the data to be stored and its structure to efficiently fulfill all users requirements.
n End Users
Ø Casual end users:Occasionally access DB using sophisticated query language (Managers)
Ø Naive end users: Querying and updating DB using canned transactions (bank tellers, etc..)
Ø Sophisticated end users: familiar with DBMS capabilities and using it to implement their complex requirements (engineers, scientists, analysts, etc. )
Ø Stand-alone users: using ready-made packages and tools to handle their personal DB.
n System Analysts and Application Programmers
Analysts determine the users requirements and develop the appropriate transaction specifications.
Application programmers implement these requirements to programs.
Analysts + Programmers are called SOFTWARE ENGINEERS