What is a database?
A database is software that is installed on a server or PC. Each database has one or more interfaces. A database user (or an application) must first log on to the database system. The data is stored there in a structured manner in the form of tables. A data record in a database table consists of various 1-n data fields. The individual fields can have various 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 specific structure (a database model). The entire database can therefore be linked together. This is done using indexes and IDs between the individual fields of the data models. Data administration and management of the tables and their relationships is handled by the database system software. The data from different tables thus form a data model. With data indexing, even large amounts of data are answered very quickly via SQL queries.
The database language
Text-based SQL queries have established themselves as the standard language. The queries can be very complex and can be constructed 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?
The following databases have currently established themselves (dbms):
- Oracle
- MS-SQL
- MariaDB (MySQL)
- MS-Access
- DB/2 (currently already very rare)
There is certainly a whole range of databases that are very special or no longer play a role. Data security 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 registration, order entry, order 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-Point, etc. use the databases. Further general information on picking in logistics can be found in the article Picking systems.
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