Flat VS Relational Databases

There are pluses and minuses to both database types. Flat databases are useful for small amounts of data and are easy to make; however after a certain amount of data it is unpractical to sort that way. Relational databases are useful for large amounts of data and are easy to sort and find information; however they are more complicated to create and not as practical for small sets of data.

Now let’s break this down a little more.

Flat databases provide information in a spreadsheet style format. There are not many ways to sort large amounts of information other that column headings. While the ever handy “command f” on Mac or the “control f” on windows can find key words, there are no other filtering options. Say filtering is not an issue because of limited amounts of data, the flat database is the simplest tool to use.

Relational databases strive in their complexity. Offering a multitude of sorting options, this is the database system for larger datasets. Not only can data be sorted through column name, it can also be sorted through how that column relates to other bits of data or how the rows interact with each other. For complicated analysis of big sets of data, this is the system to use. However, its complexity makes it a little too much for small sets of data, which can just as easily be analyzed in a flat database for a lot less effort.

What are some of the safety concerns?

It is important that the data cannot be tampered with. Depending on the security of the site on which the information is stored or displayed, it can be changed by people and not always for the best. Open source data is good for allowing others to submit their our thoughts and interpretations, but one person, who is a little bored and looking for trouble can cause data to be changed or deleted. A classic example is if the data set is from Wikipedia, anyone with a computer and access to the internet can change the information for the better or for the worse. When analyzing data, keep in mine where it is coming from, who has access to it, and is the data correct. The internet is a wonderful tool that can be used to find and create research, but not everyone on the internet is filled with good intentions.

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Author: Emily W

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