ANSI/SPARC levels

The ANSI/SPARC architecture, which dates from 1975, defines abstraction levels for a database management system:

• Internal (or physical) level: defines how data is stored, and how it is accessed.
• Conceptual level: also called the DRM (data relationship model) or LDM (logical data model). It defines how information is arranged within the database.
• External level: defines user views.

Characteristics of a DBMS

The three-level architecture defined by the ANSI/SPARC model keeps data and processing separate. Generally speaking, a DBMS must have the following characteristics:

• Physical independence: The physical level may be modified independently of the conceptual level. This means that the user cannot see all the hardware components of the database, which is simply a transparent structure for representing the stored information.
• Logical independence: The conceptual level must be editable without disrupting the physical level. In other words, the database's administrator must be able to make improvements without affecting the users' experience.
• Ease of use: People who are not familiar with the database must be able to describe their query without referencing the database's technical components.
• Speedy access: The system must be able to reply to queries as quickly as possible. This requires fast search algorithms.
• Centralised administration: The DBMS must enable the administrator to manipulate data, add elements, and verify their integrity in a centralised manner.
• Limiting redundancy: The DBMS must be able to avoid redundant information whenever possible, both to minimise errors and to prevent wasting memory.
• Integrity verification: The data must be internally coherent, and when some elements reference other elements, the latter must be present.
• Data sharing: The DBMS must allow for multiple users to simultaneously access to the database.
• Data security: The DBMS must be capable of managing each user's data access rights.