Advantages of Using the Database Approach:
1-Data Integrity: Databases enforce data integrity constraints,
ensuring that data remains accurate and consistent. This includes
features like referential integrity, unique constraints, and data
validation rules, which prevent the occurrence of invalid or
inconsistent data.
2-Data Security: Databases offer robust security features such
as access control mechanisms, encryption, and authentication
protocols. This helps in protecting sensitive information from
unauthorized access or modification.
3-Data Sharing: Databases facilitate easy sharing and access to
data among multiple users or applications concurrently. This allows
for collaborative work environments and ensures that users have
access to the most up-to-date information.
4-Data Redundancy and Consistency: Databases minimize
data redundancy by storing data in a centralized location and using
normalization techniques. This helps in reducing storage space and
ensures data consistency by eliminating inconsistencies that may
arise in file-based systems.
Concurrent Access and Transaction Management:
Databases support concurrent access by multiple users while
ensuring data integrity through transaction management. This
means that multiple users can access and modify data
simultaneously without causing conflicts or data corruption.
Disadvantages of File Processing:
1-Data Redundancy: In file processing systems, data
redundancy is common as the same data may be stored in multiple
files. This can lead to inconsistencies and wastage of storage space.
2-Limited Data Sharing: File processing systems are not
designed for concurrent access by multiple users or applications.
Sharing data among different users or departments can be
challenging and may require manual coordination.
3-Data Dependency: File processing systems often result in
data dependency, where changes in the structure of one file may
require corresponding changes in other files. This makes
maintenance and updates complex and error-prone.
4-Lack of Data Integrity and Security: File processing
systems typically lack built-in mechanisms for enforcing data
integrity constraints and ensuring security. This makes them
vulnerable to data corruption, unauthorized access, and other
security breaches.
5-Limited Scalability and Flexibility: File processing systems
may struggle to scale and adapt to changing business requirements.
Adding new data or modifying existing data structures can be
cumbersome and may require significant effort.
By.
Abdalla Mohamed Ahmed