What are two types of data in a database environment?

A database management system is a software package for creating and managing databases. Many different types of database systems exist based on how they manage the database structure.

Two types of database structure

Databases typically have one of two basic forms:

  • single-file or flat file database
  • multi-file relational or structured database

A flat file database stores data in a plain text file, with each line of text typically holding one record. Delimiters such as commas or tabs separate fields. A flat file database uses a simple structure and, unlike a relational database, cannot contain multiple tables and relations. Read more about [flat file databases].

A relational database contains multiple tables of data with rows and columns that relate to each other through special key fields. These databases are more flexible than flat file structures, and provide functionality for reading, creating, updating, and deleting data. Relational databases use Structured Query Language (SQL) - a standard user application that provides an easy programming interface for database interaction. Read more about [relational databases]