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Different Types of Database Users

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A Database User is defined as a person who interacts with data daily, updating, reading, and modifying the given data. Database users can access and retrieve data from the database through the Database Management System (DBMS) applications and interfaces.

Types of Database Users

Database users are categorized based on their interaction with the database. There are seven types of database users in DBMS. Below mentioned are the types of database users:

1. Database Administrator (DBA)

A Database Administrator (DBA) is a person/team who defines the schema and also controls the 3 levels of the database. The DBA will then create a new account ID and password for the user if he/she needs to access the database. DBA is also responsible for providing security to the database and he allows only authorized users to access/modify the database. DBA is responsible for problems such as security breaches and poor system response time.

  • DBA also monitors the recovery and backup and provides technical support.
  • The DBA has a DBA account in the DBMS which is called a system or superuser account.
  • DBA repairs damage caused due to hardware and/or software failures.
  • DBA is the one having privileges to perform DCL (Data Control Language) operations such as GRANT and REVOKE, to allow/restrict a particular user from accessing the database.

2. Naive / Parametric End Users

Parametric End Users are the unsophisticated who don’t have any DBMS knowledge but they frequently use the database applications in their daily life to get the desired results. For example, Railway’s ticket booking users are naive users. Clerks in any bank is a naive user because they don’t have any DBMS knowledge but they still use the database and perform their given task.

3. A System Analyst

A system Analyst is a user who analyzes the requirements of parametric end users. They check whether all the requirements of end users are satisfied.

4. Sophisticated Users

Sophisticated users can be engineers, scientists, business analyst, who are familiar with the database. They can develop their own database applications according to their requirement. They don’t write the program code but they interact the database by writing SQL queries directly through the query processor.

5. Database Designers

Data Base Designers are the users who design the structure of database which includes tables, indexes, views, triggers, stored procedures and constraints which are usually enforced before the database is created or populated with data. He/she controls what data must be stored and how the data items to be related. It is the responsibility of Database Designers to understand the requirements of different user groups and then create a design which satisfies the need of all the user groups.

6. Application Programmers

Application Programmers also referred as System Analysts or simply Software Engineers, are the back-end programmers who writes the code for the application programs. They are the computer professionals. These programs could be written in Programming languages such as Visual Basic, Developer, C, FORTRAN, COBOL etc. Application programmers design, debug, test, and maintain set of programs called “canned transactions” for the Naive (parametric) users in order to interact with database.

7. Casual Users / Temporary Users

Casual Users are the users who occasionally use/access the database but each time when they access the database they require the new information, for example, Middle or higher level manager.

8. Specialized users

Specialized users are sophisticated users who write specialized database application that does not fit into the traditional data-processing framework. Among these applications are computer aided-design systems, knowledge-base and expert systems etc.

Conclusion

Database users are individuals who interact with data. The access and permissions within a database depends on their function and tasks. Database users knows the value of data security, privacy, and integrity, as well as how to query data from databases using Structured Query language(SQL) or other tools.

Frequently Asked Question on Database Users – FAQs

How database users communicate with the database system?

Database Users communicate with database through SQL and various Graphical User Interfaces etc.

What is End-User Database?

End-User Database is a type of database that is primarily designed for single person to store their data, these databases having simpler structure and functioning as compared to other database.

What are some common challenges faced by database users?

Some of the issue faced by database user are performance issue and compatibility issue between different databases.


Last Updated : 05 Mar, 2024
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