What are the objectives of DBMS?

Objectives of DBMS:

 

The main objectives of DBMS are as follows: 

1.  Minimal Redundancy: Data redundancy is defined as the duplication of same data at more than one storage place. This duplication of data leads to wastage of storage space, time and incurs a cost. This redundancy in data has to be eliminated by integrating the data at one place.

2.  Consistency: The data duplication creates a problem of multiple level of updation. In some cases, updation of redundant data entries may provide either incorrect or conflicting information. A database in such a case is called as an inconsistent database. Consistency of data has to be achieved through redundancy control.

3.  Data sharing: By data sharing we mean multiple users can use the same data in the database. Also, new applications can be developed as per the needs to operate on the same stored data. An objective of DBMS as such is to satisfy the data requirement of various new applications without the need of having separate data for each application.

4.  Provision of multiple user interfaces: In order to allow different users to access the database, a DBMS should provide:

1. Query Language: Query language for casual users such as SQL to access the database.
2. Programming Language Interfaces: For application programmers.
3. Menu Driven Interfaces: For stand-alone users.

5. Simplicity: One of the objectives of DBMS is to make application development task simpler and easier. To achieve this, a DBMS is accompanied with a powerful query manipulation and report generation tools.

6.   Flexibility: The DBMS allows us to change the structure of a database without affecting the data stored in it and in the existing application. As such it makes the process of application development cheap, fast and flexible.

7.  Data Migration: It is a key objective to make the database economical. Data migration indicates the adjustment of data on costly or cheap media devices. All data within a database are not referenced very frequently. Some data are accessed frequently while other can be accessed in rare situations. The more frequently accessed data can be stored on fast access or direct access media devices, while rarely accessed data can be stored on slower access or on cheap devices.

8.    Restriction from unauthorized access: Data in database must be secured in all cases. Thus, an important objective of DBMS is to restrict unauthorized access. To ensure this it must provide:

1. User identification - before they can use the database.
2. Monitoring user actions – in case if they do anything wrong, they are likely to be found.
3. All content should be proper and not easy to check.

9.   Privacy and Security: Privacy and security are important objectives of DBMS. Privacy can be defined as when, how and to what extent data access should be given to the users. Databases are costly thus; their security is a prime concern. Security of data is needed from accidental as well as intentional disposal.

10.Integrity Enforcement: Integrity is related to the data accuracy. It also suggests that incorrect information cannot be stored in the database. In order to achieve this objective, a DBMS should have the capability for designing and imposing consistency constraints on the data.

11. Maintaining Standards: All applicable standard should be followed in the representation of data such as format, conventions on data names, documentation etc. The standardized data is very helpful during migration or interchanging of data. This will result in uniformity of the entire database as well as its usage.