We will go over the definition of RDBMS, its features, its operation, the advantages of RDBMS, and the differences between DBMS and RDBMS in this blog.
For Relational Database Management Systems, RDBMS is an acronym. A database management system (DBMS) often oversees an organised collection of data maintained in a computer system. Because popular databases model their data in tables, processing and querying are made more efficient.
What is the RDBMS?
RDBMS applications can add, remove, and update relational databases. Data that is tabular and arranged in rows and columns is stored and retrieved by a relational database system. DBMS, which was created by E.F. Codd in the 1970s, is a smaller subset of it. The foundation of relational DBMSs is shared by the major DBMSs, including SQL, My-SQL, and Oracle.
The basis of relational database management systems is the interdependence of each table’s values. It is capable of handling bigger data volumes and can easily simulate queries.
The following characteristics are replicated by relational database management systems to preserve data integrity:
- Entity Integrity: The database table’s records cannot be exactly the same twice.
- Referential Integrity: Only the rows in those tables that aren’t used by other tables may be eliminated. Failure to do so could result in inconsistent data.
- User-defined Integrity: Access and confidentiality-based rules established by the users.
- Domain integrity: The database tables’ columns are bounded by structured boundaries according to ranges, default values, or data types.
What are Database tables?
Tables are collections of linked data that are arranged in rows and columns. Data may be more easily understood and compared when it is arranged in a tabular style with separate rows and columns.
Features of Relational Database Management System
- When storing data in a database file, it must be tabular, meaning it must be arranged in rows and columns.
- A table’s rows are referred to as records or tuples. A collection of these records is referred to as the table’s cardinality.
- The table’s columns are referred to as attributes or fields. A group of these columns is referred to as the table’s arity.
- No two DB table records can be identical. Use of a candidate key thus prevents data duplication. A minimum collection of characteristics needed to uniquely identify each record is called a candidate key.
- Tables are connected to one another through the use of foreign keys.
- Database tables also support NULL values, which are not equal to zero and occur when any of the table’s elements have an empty or missing value. A NULL value cannot be assigned to the primary key.
How does the Relational Database Model work?
IBM’s E.F. Codd created the relational database in the 1970s, which links tables using shared properties. In lieu of hierarchical structures, Codd proposed a data model shift in which data is associated, retrieved, and stored in tables without reorganising the tables that contain them.
In the relational database model, every spreadsheet is a table with data shown as rows (records or tuples) and columns (attributes).
Data types are defined by attributes (columns), and each record (or row) contains the value of that specific data type. In a relational database, a primary key is an attribute that is present in every table and acts as a distinct row identifier. For example we will see the below table.
SL.no | Name | Gender | Class |
1. | Dillisree | F | 7 |
2. | Nandeesh | M | 5 |
Applications of RDBMS
- The field of customer relationship management uses RDBMS.
- Online retail platforms use it.
- In hospital management systems, it is utilised.
- Business intelligence uses it.
- The use of it is in data warehousing.
Advantages and disadvantages of Relational Database Management System
Advantages of RDBMS

- Simple to Handle: You can change each table separately without affecting the others.
- Security: With several levels of security, it is more secure. Shared data access may be restricted.
- Flexible: The ability to update data at a single location without requiring changes to several files makes it flexible. Databases are more scalable since they are easily expanded to include more records. Moreover, it makes using SQL queries simple.
- Users: Multiple users can be stored together using the client-side architecture that RDBMS provides.
- Allows a lot of data to be stored and retrieved.
- Simple Data Handling:
- Relational architecture makes it easier to retrieve data.
- Normalisation principles, keys, and indexes prevent data redundancy or duplication.
- RDBMS is built on ACID characteristics (Atomicity Consistency Isolation Durability) for data transactions, which guarantees data consistency.
- Fault Tolerance: Database replication allows for concurrent access and aids in system recovery in the event of emergencies like unexpected shutdowns or power outages.
Disadvantages of Relational Database Management System
- High Cost and Extensive Hardware and Software Support: These systems don’t work without hefty installations and prices.
- Scalability: greater servers are needed, along with greater power and memory, when more data is added.
- Complicatedness: A large amount of data makes it difficult to understand relationships and can impair performance.
- Organised Boundaries: A relational database system’s fields or columns are surrounded by a number of boundaries, which could cause data loss.
Difference between DBMS and RDBMS
Database management software is known as a DBMS (Database Management System). It offers controlled access to data and is used for database creation, updating, deletion, and maintenance.
One kind of database management system that is founded on the relational model of data is called an RDBMS (Relational Database Management System). It can be thought of as an improved DBMS.
Learn more about DBMSs and RDBMSs and their differences by reading this tutorial.
What is DBMS?
Database Management System is what DBMS stands for. A database management system (DBMS) employs the file system to store data in the form of files. Data is typically stored in DBMSs in either a hierarchical or navigable format.
There is no connection between data tables in a database management system. Distributed databases are therefore not supported by DBMS. It must offer a consistent way to access the data that is stored.
limited businesses frequently employ database management systems (DBMS) to handle a limited volume of data managed by a single person. Popular DBMS examples include file systems, XML, etc.
What is RDBMS?
Relational Database Management System is what RDBMS stands for. An RDBMS uses tables to store data, and it also creates relationships between the database’s tables. The ability of an RDBMS to define integrity constraints in the database is one of its main benefits. It can enable distributed databases since relationships between database tables can be established.
Large volumes of connected data that may be managed by several users are the main purpose of RDBMSs. RDBMSs include, for example, MySQL, Oracle, MS-Access, and others.
Feature | DBMS (Database Management System) | RDBMS (Relational Database Management System) |
---|---|---|
Storage Format | Data is stored in files, using a hierarchical or navigational form. | Data is stored in tables with relationships between them. |
Data Relationship | No relationships exist between tables. | Relationships exist between tables using foreign keys. |
Data Redundancy | Higher data redundancy as there are no constraints. | Reduced data redundancy due to normalization. |
Data Integrity | Does not enforce integrity constraints. | Enforces integrity constraints (e.g., primary key, foreign key). |
Scalability | Suitable for small-scale applications. | Suitable for large-scale applications with multiple users. |
Security | Provides less security mechanisms. | Offers better security, including role-based access control. |
Support for Distributed Databases | Does not support distributed databases. | Supports distributed databases. |
Data Access Method | Uses file-based access methods. | Uses SQL for querying and data manipulation. |
Concurrency Control | Less effective in handling multiple users. | Efficiently manages multiple users and transactions. |
Examples | XML, File Systems, Microsoft Access (in simple use cases). | MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, IBM Db2. |