Question

Sometimes a data dictionary is called as ‘the database designer’s database’. State and explain your opinion regarding this term and support your position using real-life scenarios.

Answer 1

Data Dictionary-

• Data Dictionary is an integral component of any relational database.
• It basically contains metadata that means the data about the database. In other words, It's a kind of dictionary that contains the information about the entire data that we store in a database.
• Hence it defines the structure of the database.
• It also provides a detailed accounting of all the tables that are present in the database.
• Also Contains all the attributes names, Table constraints, Database views and characteristics for each table in the system.

Due to all these reasons, Data Dictionary is sometimes called as "The Database Designer’s Database".

For example -

• Let suppose we make a table students information then possible attributes that represent the data dictionary can be -

1. Stud_Id
2. Stud_address
3. Stud_city
4. Stud_Marks

• Let suppose the particular software has to read and write to a database. However, it can only do this via the data dictionary created for that particular database.