Key terms

1. information: anything that can be communicated
2. data: information in a form that can be read, used, and manipulated through a computer
3. database: a collection of organized information stored in an organized form on a computer
4. distributed database: data strewn out across networks on different computers
5. relational database: a program that allows files to be related to each other so changes in one file are reflected in other files automatically
6. object-oriented database: instead of storing records in tables, stores software objects that contain procedures (or instructions) with data
7. object: in object-oriented databases, a data structure defined according to its class
8. centralized database: a database housed in a mainframe computer, accessible only to information-processing personnel
9. database management system (DBMS): a program or system of programs that can manipulate data in a large collection of files (the database), cross-referencing between files as needed.
10. database program: a software tool for organizing the storage and retrieval of the information in a database
11. database server: a powerful computer for holding and managing an interactive, multi-user databse
12. export data: transmitting records and fields from a database program to another program
13. dirty data: data records with spelling mistakes, incorrect or obsolete values, or other errors
14. data scrubbing/cleansing: the process of going through a database and eliminating records that contain errors.
15. data mining: the discovery and extraction of hidden predictive information from large databases
16. data translation software: software that enables users of different systems with incompatible file formats to read and modify each other's files
17. data warehouse: an integrated collection of corporate data stored in one location
18. data warehousing: software used to create and maintain large databases
19. field: each discrete chunk of information in a database record
20. field type: the characteristic of a field that determines the kind of information that can be stored in that field
21. date field: a field containing only dates
22. numeric field: a field containing only dates
23. computed field: in a database, the field containing formulas similar to spreadsheet formulas; they display values calculated from values in other numeric fields
24. key field: a field that contains data that uniquely identifies the record
25. list view: showing data by displaying several records in lists similar to a spreadsheet
26. form view: a view of the database that shows one record at a time
27. record: in a database, the information relating to one person, product, or event
28. search: looking for a specific record
29. file: an organized collection of related information stored in a computer readable form
30. file manager: a program that enables users to manipulate files on their computers
31. query: an information request
32. query language: a special language for performing queries, more precise than the English language.
33. stored query: a commonly used query recorded by a database so it can be accessed quickly in the future.
34. structured query language (SQL): a query language available for many different database management systems. More than a query language, SQL also accesses databases from a wide variety of vendors.
35. sort: arrange records in alphabetic or numeric order based on values in one or more fields
36. report: a database printout that is an ordered list of selected records and fields in an easy-to-read form
37. record matching: compiling profiles by combining information from different database files by looking for a shared unique field
38. select (records): looking for all files that match a set of criteria
39. personal information manager (PIM): a specialized database program that automates an address/phone book, an appointment calendar, to-do lists, and miscellaneous notes
40. privacy: freedom from unauthorized access to one's person, or information about one's person
41. identity theft: the crime, committed by hackers and other unscrupulous individuals, of obtaining enough information about a person to assume his or her identity, often as a prelude to illegally using the victim's credit cards
42. batch processing: accumulating transaction and feeding them into a computer in large batches
43. baud rate: a speed of data transmission; not necessarily equivalent to bits per minute, the preferred measurement for high-speed modems
44. data transfer rates: the speed at which a drive can read or write data
45. browse: the process of finding information in a database or other data source
46. class: in an object-oriented database, the data contained in the object as well as the kinds of operations that may be performed on the data
47. client/server: client programs in desktop computers send information requests through a network to server databases on mainframes, minicomputers, and desktop computers; the servers process queries and send the requested data back to the client
48. Code of Fair Information Practices: called for a ban on secret government databases, citizen access to personal information kept in government databases, and agency responsibility for database reliability and security
49. geographical information system: combines tables of data with demographic information and displays geographical and demographic data on maps
50. interactive processing: interacting with data through terminals, viewing and changing values online in real time
51. real time: when a computer performs tasks immediately