File based systems were an early attempt to computerize the manual system. It is also called a traditional based approach in which a decentralized approach was taken where each department stored and controlled its own data with the help of a data processing specialist. The main role of a data processing specialist was to create the necessary computer file structures, and also manage the data within structures and design some application programs that create reports based on file data.
In the above figure:
Consider an example of a student's file system. The student file will contain information regarding the student [i.e. roll no, student name, course etc.]. Similarly, we have a subject file that contains information about the subject and the result file which contains the information regarding the result.
Some fields are duplicated in more than one file, which leads to data redundancy. So to overcome this problem, we need to create a centralized system, i.e. DBMS approach.
DBMS:
A database approach is a well-organized collection of data that are related in a meaningful way which can be accessed by different users but stored only once in a system. The various operations performed by the DBMS system are: Insertion, deletion, selection, sorting etc.
File System helps to store a collection of raw files of data into a hard disk, while DBMS is a software system, and it helps to store, manipulate or recover data. In this article, attempts have been made to explain the terms, find their definitions and comparisons, and finally to identify the difference between File System and DBMS.
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The terms at discussion in this article, are:
- File System
- DBMS
What is a File System?
File system is a method of organising the files with a hard disk or other medium of storage. File system arranges the files and helps in retrieving the files, when required. It is compatible with different file types, such as mp3, doc, txt, mp4,etc and these are also grouped into directories. It also influences the method of writing and reading data to the hard disk.
Examples are NTFS or the New Technology File System and EXT, the Extended File System.
What is a DBMS?
DBMS, meanwhile, is the acronym for Database Management System. It is also a software used to store and regain user’s data, while also maintaining the required security measures. This includes a group of programmes that can help to manipulate the database. In bigger systems, DBMS helps the users as well as third party software to store and recover the data.
Examples are MySQL, MS SQL Server, Oracle and so on.
What is the Difference between File System and DBMS?
The file system is a collection of data and for any management with it, the user has to write the procedures, while DBMS is a collection of data and user need not write the procedures for handling the database. Learn about what is the difference between a file system and DBMS from the table given.
Difference between File System and DBMS
FILE SYSTEMDBMSUsed to manage and organise the files stored in the hard disk of the computerA software to store and retrieve the user’s dataRedundant data is presentNo presence of redundant dataQuery processing is not so efficientQuery processing is efficientData consistency is lowDue to the process of normalisation, the data consistency is highLess complex, does not support complicated transactionsMore complexity in managing the data, easier to implement complicated transactionsLess securitySupports more security mechanismsLess expensive in comparison to DBMSHigher cost than the File systemDoes not support crash recoveryCrash recovery mechanism is highly supported
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The traditional approach to information system design focuses on data processing needs of individual department in an organization without considering the organization as a whole. Each computer application typically designed with its own set of data file and application programs to meet the information requirements of particular department or a user group.Database approach overcomes the limitation of file oriented system by supporting an integrated, centralized data structure which allows to sharing database by different applications.
Traditional File Approach
Database Approach
Use separate data file for each application
All Application shares a pool of related and integrated data.
Data redundancy – independent data files included a lot of duplicated data.
Minimal data redundancy – Separate data files are integrated in to a single, logical structure.
Same data is recorded and stored in several files.
Each occurrence of a data item is recorded only once.
Data inconsistency – several versions of the same data may exist.
Single version of data exist
Same update must be done in all occurrences of same data item in each file.
Single update is required.
Users have very little opportunity to share data outside of their own application.
A database is developed to share the data among the user who access to it
There is no centralized control for overall data in different files.
There is centralized control for overall data in database.
Data dependence – description of files, records and data items are embedded within individual application programs.
Data independence – the database system separates data descriptions from the application programs that use the data in it
Modification to data files requires the programs which access that file to be modified.
Data structure can be modified without changing the programs accessing the data
High program maintenance
Less program maintenance
Lack of data integration – accessing data in several files are difficult
Data are organized in to a single logical structure with logical relationships defined between associated data