In order to consider databases some background on files and secondary storage is required. A DBMS must have sophisticated manipulation of the files that it controls.

There are many things that call themselves a database and are not. This MOO system has a single file it calls the database, but it is really just a simple file. Likewise Microsoft Access demonstrates many characteristics of a database but not enough to really be one. Therefore what constitutes a database? What capabilities are needed to really be a database?

There have been many models put forth on how a database should be organized. There are three such models that are of particular significance, the Network, Heirarchical and Relational models. These are considered in their own lesson.

These lessons constitute the basics that are needed before the rest of the course is covered.