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<!doctype html> <html lang="en"> <head> <title>Database Definition - What is a database?</title> <link rel="canonical" href="https://techterms.com/definition/database"> <meta name="description" content="Learn about databases and how they are used to store structured and organized collections of data."> <meta name="keywords" content="Database, definition, data, file, organize, table, record, relational, Access, SQL"> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta name="apple-itunes-app" content="app-id=923672016"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.google-analytics.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="securepubads.g.doubleclick.net"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.googletagservices.com"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://techterms.com/css/tt.css?v=1" media="screen, print"> <link rel="icon" href="/svg/favicon.svg"> <script>window.dataLayer=window.dataLayer||[];function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments)}gtag('consent','default',{'ad_storage':'granted','ad_user_data':'granted','ad_personalization':'granted','analytics_storage':'granted'});gtag('consent','default',{'ad_storage':'denied','ad_user_data':'denied','ad_personalization':'denied','region':["NO","DE","FI","BE","PT","BG","DK","LT","LU","LV","HR","FR","HU","SE","SI","MC","SK","MF","SM","YT","IE","GF","EE","MQ","MT","GP","IS","GR","IT","ES","AT","RE","CY","CZ","AX","PL","RO","LI","NL"]})</script> <script>let adsLoaded=!1;function loadAds(){var e,a,t;googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.pubads().refresh()}),t=document,e="script",a=t.createElement(e),t=t.getElementsByTagName(e)[0],a.async=1,a.src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js",a.setAttribute("data-ad-client","ca-pub-0087137714961591"),t.parentNode.insertBefore(a,t),adsLoaded=!0}</script> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-5K7VMN5PX3"></script> <script>window.dataLayer=window.dataLayer||[];function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments)}gtag('js',new Date());gtag('config','G-5K7VMN5PX3')</script> <script>for(var ca=document.cookie.split("; 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Databases typically store information in multiple linked tables that keep relevant data for each record in dedicated fields. Database management system (DBMS) software maintains the relationships between tables, adds and updates records, and displays data in response to queries.","contributor":{"@type":"Person","name":"Brian Pickle","url":"https://techterms.com/authors/brian_pickle"},"image":"https://techterms.com/img/md/database_165.png","url":"https://techterms.com/definition/database"} </script> </head> <body> <div id="full"> <header id="siteheader"> <div class="content"> <a href="#main" class="visuallyhidden">Skip to main content</a> <a href="/" class="logo"><img src="/svg/logo.svg" width="212" height="24" alt="TechTerms.com"></a> <div class="siteheader-middle"> <div class="searchwrapper collapsed"> <form id="search" class="search" action="/search" method="post"> <div class='autocomplete' role='combobox' aria-expanded='false' aria-owns='autocomplete-results'> <input type="text" id="term" name="term" placeholder="Search (e.g. database, CPU, GPU, RAM)" aria-label="Search (e.g. psd, docx, exe, jpg, zip)" autocomplete="off" class='autocomplete-input term' aria-autocomplete='both' aria-controls='autocomplete-results'> <button id="searchsubmit" class="searchsubmit"></button> </div> <ul id='autocomplete-results' class='autocomplete-results hidden' aria-label='Search'> </ul> </form> </div> <a href="/random" class="headerbutton random" id="random"><img src="/svg/random.svg" alt="random" width="16" height="16"></a> <button id="searchtoggle"><img src="/svg/search-white.svg" alt="search" width="18" height="18"></button> </div> <div class="siteheader-right"> <button id="menuopen"><img src="/svg/menu.svg" alt="open menu" width="18" height="16"></button> <nav id="sitemenu" class="collapsed"> <button id="menuclose"><img src="/svg/close.svg" alt="close menu" width="14" height="14"></button> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/">Terms</a></li> <li><a href="/quiz/">Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="/help/">Help Center</a></li> <li class="mobile"><a href="/random">Random Term</a></li> <li class="settings"><button id="settings"><img src="/svg/settings.svg" alt="settings" width="22" height="22"></button> <div class="settingsmenu"> <fieldset> <legend>Theme</legend> <input id="theme-default" value="default" type="radio" name="theme" checked> <label for="theme-default">Light</label> <input id="theme-dark" value="dark" type="radio" name="theme" > <label for="theme-dark">Dark</label> <input id="theme-hc" value="hc" type="radio" name="theme" > <label for="theme-hc">High Contrast</label> </fieldset> <div class="fontsizewrapper"><label for="fontsize">Font Size<input type="range" id="fontsize" name="fontsize" min="14" max="26" step="2" value="20"></label><span class="currentsize">20</span></div> <button id="resetsettings">Reset</button> </div> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </header> <main> <div class="adTopLB"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589388248615-0'> </div> </div> <div id="main" class="def"> <div id="left"> <div class="card hasheader"> <div class="cardheader"> <div class="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Home</a><svg viewBox="0 0 9 14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m0 14 9-7-9-7z"/></svg><a href="/category/software">Software Terms</a><svg viewBox="0 0 9 14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m0 14 9-7-9-7z"/></svg>Database Definition</div> </div> <article> <h1>Database</h1> <div class="adDefRect"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589302365809-0'> </div> </div> <p>A database is a structured, organized collection of <a href="/definition/data">data</a> stored on a computer system. Databases typically store information in multiple linked <a href="/definition/table">tables</a> that keep relevant data for each <a href="/definition/record">record</a> in dedicated <a href="/definition/field">fields</a>. Database management system (<a href="/definition/dbms">DBMS</a>) software maintains the relationships between tables, adds and updates records, and displays data in response to queries.</p> <p>Most modern databases are <a href="/definition/relational_database">relational databases</a>, which link multiple tables together by creating relationships between <a href="/definition/primarykey">primary key</a> fields. For example, a business may keep a database that tracks customer information (like their name and email address) in one table, orders in another, and products for sale in a third table. Each record in these tables has a primary key field containing a unique ID that records in other tables can refer to; every order links to the CustomerID for the customer that placed the order and to the ProductID for each product purchased.</p> <div class="summary">Early databases were known as "<a href="/definition/flat_file">flat file</a>" databases. These databases kept everything in a single table, like in a <a href="/definition/spreadsheet">spreadsheet</a>.</div> <p>Looking up information in a database is called a <a href="/definition/query">query</a>. Most databases use the structured query language (<a href="/definition/sql">SQL</a>) standard for queries, which lets you access and update records across multiple tables in a database. For example, a query to a database could display all customers in a particular ZIP code, all orders placed within the past week, or which customers have purchased a specified product more than once.</p> <figure class="deffig"> <img src="https://techterms.com/img/xl/database_165.png" alt="An SQL query displaying records that meet the search criteria" width="770" height="565" class="defimg"> <figcaption class="caption">An SQL query displaying records that meet the search criteria</figcaption> </figure> <p>Databases are used for countless purposes in business, education, healthcare, and government. <a href="/definition/ecommerce">E-commerce</a>, <a href="/definition/social_media">social media</a>, news sites, and other <a href="/definition/dynamicwebsite">dynamic websites</a> use databases as a backend to store their content, generating pages containing content from their databases on demand. Finally, while early databases could only handle plain text, modern databases can store other <a href="/definition/datatype">data types</a> like pictures, audio, and video.</p> <div class="adBotLB"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589236206757-0'> </div> </div> <div class="cardfooter"> <div class="upDate"><div class="author">Updated <span class="pdate">April 18, 2023</span> by <a href="/authors/brian_pickle">Brian P.</a></div></div><div id="citations"> <div class="tabs"> <div role="tablist" aria-label="citations"> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="apa" tabindex="-1">APA</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="mla" tabindex="-1">MLA</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="chicago" tabindex="-1">Chicago</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="html" tabindex="-1">HTML</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="link" tabindex="-1">Link</button> </div> <div class="citationwrap"> <div 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class="ansLetter">B</span> <div class="answerCell"><span id="answerB" class="quizAnswer">Browser script</span> <div class="answerBar"> <div id="quizBarB" class="quizBar"></div><span id="quizPercB" class="quizperc">0%</span> </div> </div> </div> <div id="ansButtonC" class="answerButton activeButton" data-answer="Cnum" data-date="2022-12-09"><span class="ansLetter">C</span> <div class="answerCell"><span id="answerC" class="quizAnswer">Browser builder</span> <div class="answerBar"> <div id="quizBarC" class="quizBar"></div><span id="quizPercC" class="quizperc">0%</span> </div> </div> </div> <div id="ansButtonD" class="answerButton activeButton" data-answer="Dnum" data-date="2022-12-09"><span class="ansLetter">D</span> <div class="answerCell"><span id="answerD" class="quizAnswer">Browser extension</span> <div class="answerBar"> <div id="quizBarD" class="quizBar"></div><span id="quizPercD" class="quizperc">0%</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="quizResult"><div class="qmsg"> <b class="quizPass">Correct!</b> <b class="quizFail">Incorrect!</b>   <span class="customMessage"></span>  View the <a href="/definition/browser_extension">Browser Extension definition</a>.</div> <a href="/quiz/#morequizzes" class="quizNext btnprimary">More Quizzes →</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="right"> <div class="prevnext"> <a href="datatype"><span class="arrow">‹</span>  <span class="linktext">Data Type</span></a><span> | </span><a href="datagram"><span class="linktext">Datagram</span>  <span class="arrow">›</span></a></div> <div class="tf card"> <h2 class="heading">Tech Factor</h2> <a href="/help/tech_factor" class="info" title="What is the Tech Factor?">?</a> <a href="/techfactor/2"><span class="factor">2</span><span class="denom"> / 10</span></a></div> <div class="listBox card related"> <h2 class="heading">Related Terms</h2> <div class="rlists"> <ol> <li><a href="/definition/data">Data</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/table">Table</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/record">Record</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/field">Field</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/relational_database">Relational Database</a></li> </ol> <ol start="6"><li><a href="/definition/flat_file">Flat File</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/access">Access</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/sql">SQL</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/mysql">MySQL</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/datatype">Data Type</a></li> </ol> </div> </div> <div class="card"> <h2 class="heading">Database Images</h2> <div class="baguetteBox gallery"> <figure> <a href="https://techterms.com/img/xl/database_165-2.png"><img src="https://techterms.com/img/sm/database_165-2.png" alt="A diagram of the relationships between tables" width="225" height="167" srcset="https://techterms.com/img/md/database_165-2.png 450w, https://techterms.com/img/sm/database_165-2.png 225w" sizes="(max-width: 748px) 225px, (max-width: 970px) 162px, 225px"></a> <figcaption class="caption">A diagram of the relationships between tables</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="adRightSky"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589233879778-0'> </div> </div> </div> <div class="techterms card"> <h2 class="heading">The Tech Terms Computer Dictionary</h2> <p>The definition of Database on this page is an original definition written by the <a href="/authors/">TechTerms.com team</a>. If you would like to reference this page or cite this definition, please use the green citation bar directly below the definition.</p> <p>Our goal to explain computer terminology in a way that is easy to understand. We strive for accuracy and simplicity with every definition we publish. If you have feedback about this definition or would like to suggest a new technical term, please <a href="/contact">contact us</a>.</p> <h2 class="heading">TechTerms Newsletter</h2> <p>Improve your technical knowledge with our daily or weekly newsletter! Subscribe today and get new terms and quizzes delivered to your inbox.</p> <button id="ttn_open" class="btnprimary">Subscribe</button> </div> </div> <div class="popupwrapper"> <div id="newsletter_popup"> <button class="close">×</button> <div id="ttnform"> <h3 class="heading">Sign up for the free TechTerms Newsletter</h3> <form id="subscribe"> <div class="field"><label for="newsletter_email">Email (required):</label> <input type="email" id="newsletter_email" name="newsletter_email" required aria-label="email address"> </div> <div class="row1"> <div class="field"><label for="first_name">First Name:</label> <input type="text" name="first_name" id="first_name"></div> <div class="field"><label for="first_name">Last Name:</label> <input type="text" name="last_name" id="last_name"></div> </div> <fieldset class="row2"> <legend>How often would you like to receive an email?</legend> <input type="radio" name="frequency" id="daily" value="d" checked><label for="daily">Daily</label> <input type="radio" name="frequency" id="weekly" value="w"><label for="weekly">Weekly (Every Tuesday)</label> <input type="text" id="newsletter_message" name="message" class="cfieldhid" aria-hidden="true" aria-label="If you are a human, please do not fill in this field." tabindex="-1"> </fieldset> <input type="submit" class="btnprimary" value="Subscribe"> <div id="ttnerror"> </div> <p>You can unsubscribe or change your frequency setting at any time using the links available in each email.<br><br>Questions? 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