A database is a software that is installed on a server or PC. Each database has one or more interfaces. A database user (or application) must first log on to the database system. The data is stored there in a structured form in the form of tables. A data record in a database table consists of various 1-n data fields. The individual fields can have different data types. Access to the individual tables is managed by a database management system (rights management for the user). Physically, the data is stored in a collection of files.
Relational databases
The relationships between the individual fields of the tables form a certain structure (a database model). The entire dataset can therefore be linked to each other. This is done using indexes and IDs between the individual fields of the data models. The database system software is responsible for data administration and management of the tables and their relationships. The data from different tables thus form a data model. With data indexing, even large amounts of data are answered very quickly using SQL queries.
The database language
Text-based SQL queries have become the standard language. The queries can be very complex and can be structured between different relational tables. The amount of data returned can also contain several million data records. The individual records are retrieved with a cursor. The server system of a database should have as much memory available as possible.
What databases are there?
Currently the following databases have become established (dbms):
- Oracle
- MS-SQL
- MariaDB (MySQL)
- MS Access
- DB/2 (currently already very rare)
There are certainly still a number of databases that are very specific or no longer relevant. The security of the data has the highest priority.
Conclusion
The databases manage the data volumes and serve as data containers. Databases are very important in logistics. They are used for customer entry, order entry, picking and dispatch or production. The relational database system manages the data objects.
All LUCA systems, such as Pick-to-Light, Voice Picking, Pick-by-Pointetc. use the databases. For more general information on picking in logistics, see the article Picking Systems.
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