Intro to DBMS

File System Vs. DBMS

File System and DBMS are two different terms. Let’s explain both terms one by one and compare the File system vs the database system.

What is a File Management System?

  • The file management system is a collection of all those programs that store and manage data in files and folders of computer HD (hard disk).
  • Data is stored on the physical location of the Hard disk drive. So, users go manually to these locations and access these files easily.
  • It is the simplest and easiest way to store data like text, audio, videos, images, etc., in general files.
  • Data redundancy (duplicity) is high in file management systems, and it cannot be controlled easily as two files may exist in two different folders.
  • Data consistency and integration are not met. It is as if the same two files exist in two different folders, and a change in one folder does not update the other.
  • Operating Systems (OS) such as Linux and Windows have their own file system.
  • For example, NTFS (New Technology File System) is the Windows file system, and EXT is the Linux file system.

Note: There are some problems with the file system, which are overcome through DBMS.

Database Management System (DBMS)

It is software designed to perform various operations on data, i.e., store, retrieve, define, manage, etc., in a database.

File System Vs. DBMS

Let’s see the comparison of the File system vs. database system

SR. File System DBMS
1 The file system is a software system that manages and controls the data files in a computer system. It is a software system used to manage the data in the database
2 The file system does not support multi-user access. DBMS multi-user access.
3 In the file system, the Data consistency is low. Data consistency is high in DBMS as normalization removes duplicity.
4 The file system is not secure. Database Management System is highly secured.
5 The file system stores the data in an unstructured form. DBMS is used for storing the structured data.
6 No data backup and recovery in a file system. backup and recovery of data is present in DBMS.
7 It has a low cost as compared to DBMS. It has a high cost compared to the file system.
8 Failure of one application does not affect other applications in a file system. Failure of the database will affect all applications depending on it.
9 Data cannot be shared In the file system because it is distributed in different files. Data can be shared in DBMS because it is stored in one place in a database.
10 Examples include the new technology file system(NTFS ), extended file system (EXT), etc.  Examples:  MySQL, MS SQL Server, DB2, Microsoft Access, etc.
11 In File System, file Handling is easy.  In DBMS, DBMS Handling is complex.