Question

Discuss some advantages and disadvantages of using DBMS such as Access, Dbase or Oracle in dealing with data and/or data files.

Answer 1

The DBMS serves as the intermediary between the user and the database. The database structure itself is stored as a collection of files, So, we can access the data in those files through the DBMS.

The DBMS receives all application requests and translates them into the complex operations required to fulfill those requests. The DBMS hides much of the database’s internal complexity from the application programs and users.

Advantages,

• Reduced data redundancy
• Reduced updating errors and increased consistency
• Greater data integrity and independence from applications programs
• Improved data access to users through use of host and query languages
• Improved data security
• Reduced data entry, storage, and retrieval costs
• Facilitated development of new applications program

Disadvantages,

• Database systems are complex, difficult, and time-consuming to design
• Substantial hardware and software start-up costs
• Damage to database affects virtually all applications programs
• Extensive conversion costs in moving form a file-based system to a database system
• Initial training required for all programmers and users.