ABSTRACT
After learning about the basics of the data used inside computer programming, we move on to the topics of data storage and retrieval, which happens to be the main component in data processing. This chapter initially touches upon all of the storage media used for storing computer data and discusses the magnetic disks that are most popular for data storage currently in a little more detail. Then the idea of data records in a data file are explained as a precursor to discussing data files, followed by the introduction of the file organization mechanisms of sequential, random, and indexed-sequential access organizations are discussed. Noting the demerits of flat files used for storing the data, we move on to the database management system (DBMS) for storing data. After discussing the salient features of the DBMS, the DBMS terms like the field, record, table, and database are explained in sufficient detail. The chapter also discusses the relational DBMS, setting relations, and using interface tables to achieve many-to-many relationships.
