What is a database?
A database is a way of organising information. The most useful feature of a database is the ability to search for information using different criteria. For example if you had a database made up of all your family and friends and you entered information on the following topics (fields):
Name, address, telephone number, birthday, hair colour, eye colour.
You could search for members who have a birthday in April and have blue eyes. The database will search the files using the two fields and quickly give you all members of that group.
Some terms that you will need to know when using a database are:
Field |
Store, calculate, and display the data you have entered into a record. Field values can be text, numbers, dates times, pictures, sounds, movies |
Record |
When you enter data into the database you add a new record |
List view |
All records visible |
Form view |
Only one record visible |
ICT skills
As part of the requirements for the School Certificate you have to develop skills in ten areas of information and communication technology. One of these areas is the use of databases. You are also expected to use databases as part of your Science course. While you will be expected to construct a database at some time in years 7 to 10 this activity looks at using an existing database.
