The database life cycle (DBLC) describes the steps of a database implementation, beginning with requirements analysis and ending with monitoring and change. Furthermore, since database monitoring, modification, and maintenance are all part of the life cycle, and these tasks continue long after a database has been established, the DBLC never stops. Simply said, the DBLC includes the database’s lifespan.
Databases are critical to your company’s ability to manage all procedures efficiently. They are a key aspect of your organization because they store, organize, and analyze critical data from customers, workers, suppliers, inventories, and other sources. With this thorough guide, we will explain what a database is, and the lifecycle of database creation.Â
What Exactly Is a Database?
A database is a significant amount of data saved in computer systems. It is a well-organized collection of structured data that is managed by a database management system (DBMS). Thus, the data, the DBMS, and the accompanying application constitute a database system, which is short for a database.
The information in the database is stored in several ways, which are referred to as database models. The most common form is the relational database model, which uses sets of relations to store data. A DBMS is required to access data from such models.
A database management system, often known as a DBMS, is a piece of computer software that enables you to store, update, generate, retrieve, and analyze data.
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Lifecycle of a Database
Databases, like anything else, have a limited lifetime. Even the most successful database is eventually replaced with a more flexible and up-to-date structure, and life starts again. The database lifespan is divided into six segments.
Analysis of Requirements
The most significant stage in developing a database system is determining what is necessary, such as the kind of database required for the business organization, the daily volume of data, the amount of data required to be saved in the master files, and so on.
A database analyst spends a significant amount of time inside the business organization talking to individuals, end users, and being familiar with the day-to-day process to gather all of this information.
Database Design
Carry out the design process based on the findings of the data requirements analysis. There are two methods of database design:
The entity-relationship (ER) paradigm is used in the top-down design. The process starts with entity identification, then moves on to connections between entities and cardinality or multiplicity. Attributes, primary keys, and foreign keys are all part of each object (if any).
Normalization is used in the bottom-up design process. The process first detects characteristics before grouping them into data sets to construct relations.
Both techniques complement one another. Normalize entities and relationships with data redundancy in the early ER model. Then, using the normalized results, modify the initial ER model to get a better final ER model. Perform the mapping from the ER model to the relational tables during the logical database design stage. Normalize the tables if they contain redundant data.
Implementation
The database system is implemented or installed for usage after the design process and the selection of a suitable DBMS. This phase’s goal is to implement the information system following the plan and design given in the previous phase. Implementation entails a series of steps that culminate in an operational information system, such as creating database definitions, developing applications, testing the system, developing operational procedures and documentation, training users, and populating databases in the same data file of the same organization. It is a crucial stage in the database-building process.
Evaluation and Testing
The testing and evaluation step start after all of the database’s logical schemas, standards, and requirements have been implemented. Database designs were created with the database’s integrity, performance, and security in mind. At this step, tests are run to fine-tune the database to verify that it functions as planned.
Database Publication
The database is placed into operation once it has been thoroughly tested to guarantee that it works flawlessly and performs as planned. The database is now ready for deployment on live servers. All documentation, codes, and associated files are given over to the product owners when the items are released.
Maintenance
Changes to the database are done during the maintenance phase in response to new needs or modified operational circumstances (such as heavier load).
