Technatic | A database server is one of the keys to the smooth storage and utilization of data in a company. In its application, there are several different ways of working according to the needs and characteristics of the company concerned. This article will discuss the meaning of a database server, its functions, types, and how it works in detail. Listen carefully!
Understanding Database Server
In general, a database server is a database contained in a computer network, either local or long distance. This makes it possible to access the database anytime and anywhere via the connected network. By using a database server, you can also create a database cluster, so that it can accommodate various data processing requests more massively.
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So, what is the difference between a database and a database server? The difference lies in the system that helps them run. A database is a variety of information or data that is stored, while a database server is a system that provides data or information services to clients.
Database Server Function
The functions of database servers vary greatly and all play an important role in data management in an organization or company. Following are some of its functions.
- Prevent data duplication: Several database server programs are able to help group data according to type or other characteristics. With this grouping, you can avoid data duplication and inefficient data management.
- Organize Data Management: The second database server function is to manage your company's data efficiently and regularly. This function allows you to store and manage data according to company goals.
- Save workers' time: with the ease of collecting and accessing data, of course worker performance can also increase. Because, they can cut the time usually used to search for data to be much shorter.
- Sharing Data: In a company, if you only store data on a computer but are not connected to a database server, then this will make it difficult for employees in other departments when they need that data.
- Maintaining Business Privacy: Did you know that the database server is equipped with a guaranteed security system. This server allows data to only be accessed by those authorized or permitted to be operators and data accessors.
Benefits of Database Servers
After understanding the functions and types, what are the benefits of a database server? Here are some of the benefits.
1. Easy to Use
The first benefit of this server is that it can provide several useful tools, as well as a collection of interfaces that facilitate processing and managing data so that it is always up to date. With this update, you can of course save a lot of time and energy in writing your own code to access or manage this data.
2. Access Flexibility
An important benefit of a database server is that it is able to receive data requests from many clients simultaneously. This means that different users and applications can access the same data from different networks simultaneously.
Additionally, changes made by one person will also be immediately visible to other users. Therefore, using a data server will make access to the database easier.
3. Guaranteed Security
Database servers provide strict mechanisms to maintain security and privacy, such as user authentication and access control mechanisms. In addition, the database server is also able to handle backup or recovery issues to prevent loss of required data.
4. Accommodates Large Volumes of Data
Apart from being safe, this server can also store very large amounts of data and allows many users to access data simultaneously. You can easily add new servers without downtime. This will make it easier for your business to grow, especially when new users join the app.
5. Clear Settings
The final benefit of a database server is that it has strict rules to maintain data integrity, such as using unique and foreign keys for data relationships. This rule can guarantee that the data accessed by the database server is always consistent and accurate.
Database Server Type
There are 12 types of database servers which are divided based on function, purpose and place of application. Below is an explanation of each.
- Functional Database: This type of database is tasked with storing detailed information needed to support the operations of the entire organization. This type is also known as a subject database (SADB).
- Analytical Database: The second type of database server is tasked with storing data and information taken from operational databases and selected external data.
- Data Warehouse: Data warehouse stores year-to-year and date-to-date data taken from various organizational operational databases.
- Distributed Database: This type of database server is usually used to store databases between work groups or departments in a regional office, branch offices divided into certain areas, and other work locations.
- End-User Database: Unlike the previous type, end-user database consists of various data files developed by end-users on their workstations.
- External Database: This type of database server is tasked with providing access to private external data on the web. Access to rich data from external databases from online business services is available on a paid or free basis from various sources.
- Hypermedia Database Server: This server is a collection of various interconnected multimedia pages on a website.
- Navigational Database: In database navigation, the main query is to find objects by following references to other objects.
- In-Memory Database: This type of database server relies on the computer's main memory to store data.
- Document-Oriented Database: This type of document-based database server is a computer program developed for document-oriented applications.
- Real-Time Database Server: This type of real-time database is a processing system designed to handle workloads whose status can change continuously.
- Relational Database: Relational databases have been the standard for enterprise computing since 2009 and are the most commonly used databases today.
Conclusion
The way the Database Server is operated is based on the client-server model. Therefore, using this model means that the system will divide the process between the server that handles it and the client that runs the application. So, the way a database server actually works is by reducing the burden of client or user data access on the server.
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A database can be accessed by several users at the same time if the data is processed or changed by the same source, namely the database server. The server itself can be accessed, either through the user interface running on the computer, or running on the server.