Database Record

KS3 Computer Science

11-14 Years Old

48 modules covering EVERY Computer Science topic needed for KS3 level.

GCSE Computer Science

14-16 Years Old

45 modules covering EVERY Computer Science topic needed for GCSE level.

A-Level Computer Science

16-18 Years Old

66 modules covering EVERY Computer Science topic needed for A-Level.

GCSE Databases Resources (14-16 years)

  • An editable PowerPoint lesson presentation
  • Editable revision handouts
  • A glossary which covers the key terminologies of the module
  • Topic mindmaps for visualising the key concepts
  • Printable flashcards to help students engage active recall and confidence-based repetition
  • A quiz with accompanying answer key to test knowledge and understanding of the module

A-Level Introduction to Databases (16-18 years)

  • An editable PowerPoint lesson presentation
  • Editable revision handouts
  • A glossary which covers the key terminologies of the module
  • Topic mindmaps for visualising the key concepts
  • Printable flashcards to help students engage active recall and confidence-based repetition
  • A quiz with accompanying answer key to test knowledge and understanding of the module

A database record is a collection of fields about the same person, item, or object in a database. The database record can be thought of as a row of information within a database table.

The Database

A database is a set of data arranged in a way that a computer program can immediately choose the required portions of data.  It is often called DB.
A common database can be compared to a filing system which is arranged by fields, records, and files.  A field is a specific piece of data; a record is a total set of fields, and a file is a group of records.  For example, a phone book can be considered a file with a list of records.  Each record has the following fields: name, address, and phone number.
A database management system (DBMS) is used to obtain data from a database.  DBMS is a selection of programs that allows the user to input, arrange, and choose data from a database.  There are distinct kinds of DBMS, from small systems that perform on personal computers to large systems that perform on mainframes.

The Record

A record is a group of data saved in a table.  It is a set of fields, like an employee’s job record as shown below.

Employee IDLast NameFirst NamePositionDepartmentHire Date
00108DoeJohnAssistant ManagerHuman ResourcesNovember 16, 2000
00109ParkerAnneSupervisorFinancial ServicesMay 1, 2003

A record in a database is an object that can have one or more values.  Groups of records are then saved in a table; the table determines the data that each record may have.  Various tables hold various records in a database.
A new record produces a new row in the table that’s why records are oftentimes labeled as rows.  Separate fields are referred to as columns because they are identical for every record in the table.  Record and row can be utilized mutually, but nearly all database management systems utilize rows for error messages and queries.
Records provide a practical way to save and pull out data from the database.  Each record can have diverse types of data, and thus a single row could have several kinds of information.
Records can be easily created, altered, and erased without affecting other data in the database.
An ideal database design should have a primary key for the table.  A primary key is a unique field in each record in a database.  In an employee’s job record sample above, the Employee ID is the primary key.
A group of records can be called a file, data set, or table.

Advantages of Using a Database

  • Significant time savings – Fetching a single record can be done in a just a few clicks. Merging database records can be done in an instant.
  • More handy information – Creating and running a query can be done easily to seek for distinct answer or record from the database.
  • Capacity to connect data – Different sources of information can be linked together to review performance.
  • Ability to stimulate mail, email and social media – Mass customisation in terms of specific response to potential customers depending on interpreted customer information. Mail and email operations can be easily driven to customers.  Social media feedback can be easily tracked.

Disadvantages of Using a Database

  • Complexity – Database needs complicated hardware and software systems. Design and development is an intricate endeavour.
  • Cost – Database requires considerable one-time and continuous financial resources. Database management system customisations would include periodic modifications that has cost implications.
  • Security – There is a need to ensure that database systems can safely save data including confidential information. High security against viruses and hacking is required.
  • Compatibility – There is a possibility that a database management system might not be suitable with a company’s functional requirements. Scalable database management systems that are being offered nowadays may resolve this issue.

Further Readings:

A database record is a collection of fields about the same person, item, or object in a database.