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Database management is a system of managing information that is used to support a company’s business operations. It involves storing and distributing data it to users and applications and editing it when needed and monitoring changes to the data and protecting against data corruption due to unexpected failure. It is a part of the overall infrastructure of a business which supports decision-making and corporate growth as well as compliance with laws like the GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act.

The first database systems were invented in the 1960s by Charles Bachman, IBM and others. They developed into information management systems (IMS) that enabled the storage and retrieve huge amounts of data for a wide range of purposes, from calculating inventory to supporting complex human resources and financial accounting functions.

A database is a set of tables that organizes data in accordance with the specific scheme, for example one-to many relationships. It utilizes primary keys to identify records, and allow cross-references between tables. Each table contains a number of fields, also known as attributes, that contain information about the data entities. The most popular kind of database is a relational model designed by E. F. “Ted” Codd at IBM in the 1970s. This model is based on normalizing the data, making it more easy to use. It is also easier to update data because it doesn’t require the modification of many sections of the databases.

Most DBMSs are able to support different types of databases, offering internal and external levels of organization. The internal level addresses cost, scalability and other operational issues including the layout of the database’s physical storage. The external level determines how the database appears in user interfaces and other applications. It may include a mix of external views based on different data models. It can include virtual tables that are computed with generic data to enhance the performance.