What is a database?
Options
- An organized collection of data that programs can store and search (Correct option)
- A spreadsheet file that only one person can open at a time
- A type of web browser that is used to connect to servers
- A folder in which the backups of a company are stored
Answer
An organized collection of data that programs can store, search, update and share safely
Why
Applications need to remember things: users, orders, messages. A database keeps that data organized on disk so it survives when the program stops.
Compared to plain files, a database lets many users read and write at the same time, searches quickly (indexes), and protects the data with rules and transactions.
Examples: PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle Database, MongoDB.
Remember
Database = organized, durable, shareable data.