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DATABASE BASICS WITH MS ACCESS What is a Database? A database is a large, organized, and structured collection of data. Any data that can be divided (categorized) into groups (columns) are suitable for use in a database. For example, data in a class list can be organized by names, surnames, school numbers, and classes as a database. Data are a collection of facts, measurements, and statistics used as a basis for reasoning. A database management system (DBMS) is software that controls database operations for storing, retrieving, adding, deleting, and modifying data. Microsoft Access, DB2, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and FileMaker Pro are all examples of database management systems. A database is much like a table or a group of listed items. Just like spreadsheet ( MS Excel) tables, database tables consist of columns and rows. You can also use any word-processing program, such as Notepad and WordPad to list items. However, databases are actually much more powerful than spreadsheets or word processors in terms of manipulating, sorting, searching, and reporting data as well as some relational design concepts.