What are Databases?

Databases are used to store large amounts of Data. The data is organised in a way that makes it easy to search. Databases are used in many different places and for a range of different purposes. Schools, Hospitals, Supermarkets, iTunes, Amazon, Facebook, Ticketek, Google and YouTube all make use of databases.

 

What are they used for?

Databases can be used to:

	Send letters or emails - confirmation of Ticket Booking
	Manage Appointments - Parent Teacher Interviews / Doctors surgery
	Track products customers want to buy - Amazon Shopping Carts
	Deliver Pop Up Adverts adverts based on what a user searches for - Online Shopping sites
	Suggest similar movies or books - Book Repository or Internet Movie Database
	Know which friends people have in common - Facebook

At Loreto we use a Database called The Alpha School System (TASS). This keeps track of all the addresses and contact details of staff, students and parents as well as Student Reports, Fee Payments, Medical Information and school Budgets. Whenever you log in to Student cafe you are using a Database!

 

Watch the video below. It comes from the BBC Bitesize website.