Define the Database Management System.

1. A Database Management System (DBMS), or simply a Database System (DBS), consists of :

• A collection of interrelated and persistent data (usually referred to as the Database (DB)).
• A set of application programs used to access, update and manage that data (which form the data Management System (MS)).

2. The goal of a DBMS is to provide an environment that is both convenient and efficient to use in :

• Retrieving information from the database.
• Storing information into the database.

3. Databases are usually designed to manage large bodies of information. This involves :

• Definition of structures for information storage (data modeling).
• Provision of mechanisms for the manipulation of information (file and systems structure, query processing).
• Providing for the safety of information in the database (crash recovery and security).
• Concurrency control if the system is shared by users.