Advantages of RDBMS
The relational database management system collects related data stored in tabular format. The data is stored in rows and columns, where rows usually represent the individual entity of the collected data. In contrast, the column stores the attributes that describe the properties of these entities. It is a relatively organized method of storing the data that simplifies the analysis process. The first time RDBMS was invented by E.F. Codd of IBM was in 1969. With the development in technology, new data models are introduced, such as object-oriented, hierarchal, and network data models.
The advantages of the RDBMS are individually discussed below:
Simplicity
As discussed above, the relational database organizes the data in tables that reduce the complexity of data analysis and study. It also allows performing certain simple operations and can efficiently perform data manipulation. It is easier to develop and design a relational database, and the structure of the database can be visualized even without the data. The structure and implementation of the database are similar to that of the excel sheet.
Ease of Data Retrieval
Accessing various database entities is quite easy in the relational model has one does not need to follow some fixed path to reach the element of the database. A unique attribute in the relational database model must be able to differentiate one entity from the other. This attribute is regarded as the table's primary key and can be used to access the element.
The relational model also allows the users to retrieve data sets that meet certain conditions, making selective selection easier. The above points are true for every table in the database. The user cannot only individually query a table but can also pass a query on multiple tables related to each other using the joins function. The result that is drowned from these operations can be further filtered according to the user's need. It is up to the user to decide how much data is displayed. The Database Administrator can also hide the irrelevant data. This process of hiding unnecessary details from the user is called data abstraction, making the application more user-friendly.
Data Integrity
It is one of the most crucial features provided by the RDBMS, which is quite the reason behind the popularity of this model. By implementing several constraints on the database, the management system ensures the data integrity of the database is not disturbed even when multiple sources are manipulating the data at the same time. Data integrity is guaranteed in the relational database model by keeping the check on data entry by fixing the datatypes and range of the variable allowed as the attribute value of the column. It is an essential feature of the relational model. A unique key attribute is ensured in every table. It maintains data accuracy and consistency.
Flexibility
The RDBMS model is quite flexible when it comes to application. For starters, the administrator can design its unique schema for the database fitting the user's need. The database structure can be modified according to the data that need to be stored in it. The relational database management system provides a range of abstraction that allows the user to make changes in one level of the database without affecting the other that is manipulation on the structure can be performed without disturbing the data and vice-versa.
We can perform operations such as adding, deleting or altering the data quite efficiently using the relational data model and storing a vast amount of data. Speaking theoretically, the RDBMS allows you to store unlimited data. Using RDBMS make it easier to represent the data, and it provides a range of GUIs interfaces for improving the presentation of data even more. It allows representing the data in different views simultaneously, making it serve multiple purposes simultaneously. We can also implement our databases and other external applications designed specifically to increase RDBMS functionality.
Normalization
This is not a direct rather a step-wise process to increase the efficiency of the databases. We perform normalization on the data to get rid of any anomalies from the data. It also helps to remove further the redundant data stored in the database. As the level of normalization increases, there is a decrease in redundancy, and studying the data becomes relatively easier. Each level of normalization has its requirement to be fulfilled for the data to be normalized at that level.
Normalizing data is a serial process that means one cannot skip any level to reach the next higher level of normalization. For a database to be normalized, it should be at least normalized at the third level. There are three more advanced levels than the third normal form. These levels are BCNF, 4NF, and 5NF. They further provide additional benefits, such as the data in this form being more secure than in the levels below.
Easy to Understand
The structure of the database is simple to understand; even without any advanced knowledge of the database can be implemented easily as the data is stored in the form of tables which is similar to that in the traditional application making it easier to perform CRUD operations. We can perform the query on the entire or even selected part of the database.
Multi-User Access
The Relational Data Model is popular because it allows the user to deploy the databases on a large number of systems. All the systems have the right to read or write the data on the database. It provides features like concurrency controls and transactions management that allow multiple manipulation operations on the data while maintaining the integrity of the data. It prevents the data from being inconsistent because of performing modifications on it at once.
Privileges
It allows the administrator to control the access to data of the various users. The administrator can add authorization, passwords, and privileges in the RDBMS. The user can control the access of the user by setting up the level of access to data. By implementing the authorization, the user can prevent access to external systems by defining the remote client IP address that is allowed to access the data.
Network Access
Relational Database Management systems are specialized software that supports network access; this makes the RDBMS more scalable as it allows the user to deploy the user the database over a network. It enables the user to develop web applications that can directly interact with the databases. It allows the user to remotely access the database from anywhere. It is not necessary to sit on the particular system where the database is deployed. It can be implemented as the basic client-server application, where the user can request the data from anywhere by clearing a layer of security.
Speed
There are certainly many models that are comparatively faster than the Relational data model. But along with being fast, this model's simplicity makes it more efficient to use. This shortcoming with speed can be overlooked because of that. The relational database model also allows you to reduce the complexity of both time and space by providing the option of optimizing the database by changing the schema of the database. For most of the applications, the RDBMS is fast enough to run and implement the database. With the new technology improved processors, it all covers up for the lack of speed of RDBMS.
Maintenance
It is easier to maintain the database in the relational database management system. It provides a test and repair mechanism to maintain the database. It provides recovery and backup mechanisms that can restore the data that is stored in the database in time of system crash. It also enables automating certain functions in the relational database management system.
Language
To perform the CRUD operation in the Relational Database Management System, one needs to implement queries that can only be done in the Structured Query Language. The syntax of the language is quite easy to implement. It is easy to understand and learn as it uses simple, easy keywords to perform the operations on the data. The keyword used is related to the very function those keywords perform. This language is simple and can be learned even if the user is not a professional.