Characteristics of Database Management System

1. Self Describing: DBMS Systems create a sub layer with the operating system and handles all the functions related with the DBMS separately and specifically.

2. Insulation from programs and Data Abstraction.

3. Support of Multiple views to Database.


                          Advantages of Database

1.Redundancy can be reduced:There are provisions in all database models that reduntant storage of the data can be avoided . In non-database systems each application has its own private files. This fact can often lead to considerable redundancy in stored data, with resultant waste in storage space.

2. Security can be enforced: The DBA (Data Base Administrator) can ensure that the only means of access to the database through the proper channels, and hence can define security constraints or rules for accessing the sensitive data. No one can access or modify or store database without login. Different constraints can be established for each type of access (retrieve, insert, delete, etc) to each piece of information in the database.

3. Allowing Multiple User Interface: DBMS has the capability to provide concurrent execution of various parts of the database. In this approach, Deadlock and other anomalies are also handled by the DBMS.

4. Backup and Recovery: Database Management Systems have proper mechanism to Backup the whole database and recover when any disaster comes to picture.

5. Reduced application development time: The effort required to develop user's utility programs reduces considerably and so does the time.

                Disadvantages of Database

1. Cost issues: Installing and maintaining a database is expensive, particularly in a large organisation. In addition, there are costs associated with training people to use it correctly.

2. Security issues: Although database can be structured to restrict access, it's always possible unauthorised users will get past the safeguards. And when they do, they may have access 

to all the files, not just a few. In addition, if a database is destroyed by fire, earthquake, theft, or hardware or software problems, it could be fatal to an organisation's business 

activities - unless steps have been taken to regularly make backup copies of the files and store them elsewhere.

3. Privacy issues: Databases may hold information they should not and be used for unintended purposes, perhaps intruding on people's privacy. Medical data,for instance, may be used inappropriately in 

evaluating an employee for a job promotion.