o Maybe computerized
o Will be organized so as to make the retrieval and maintenance of data as easy as possible
Two types of database structure. Databases typically have one of two basic forms:
*Single-file or flat file database
*Multi-file relational or structured database
Flat file
A flat file is a database held in a single file. The data stored in one file cannot easily be linked to data stored in another file. A flat file, also known as a text database, is a type of database that stores data in a plain text format. Flat files typically text files that have all word processing and structure markup removed. A flat file features a table with a single record per line.
They are only suitable for very simple databases. The patient database is an example of a flat-file as all of the information is stored in one single table.
Multi-file relational
A database that is perceived by the user as a collection of two-dimensional tables. A relational database contains multiple tables of data that relate to each other and allows the user to specify information about multiple tables and the relationships between those tables, allowing more flexibility and control over database constraints. This database management system has the capability to recombine data elements to form different relations resulting in a great flexibility of data usage.
Types of database structure
