Data and Database Fundamentals for Tech+

Value of Data

There's a distinction between data and information: - Data: Raw facts and figures without context. Example: a list of temperatures 18, 21, 20, 19. Just numbers or symbols. Valuable as raw input from which information can be derived.

Database Concepts

A database is an organized collection of data designed to efficiently store, retrieve, and manage information. The DBMS (Database Management System) is software that handles databases (MySQL, Oracle, MongoDB).

Database Use

There are multiple ways to structure a database: - Flat File: Data in plain text or single table (CSV, Excel). All data in one place. Drawbacks: redundant data, inconsistent, doesn't handle complex queries well. Works for small, simple datasets.

Backup Concepts

Regular data backups protect against data loss from accidental deletion, hardware failure, malware, or disasters.