Difference Between DBMS and RDBMS

The software application that enables the users to store the data is known as a database. In database architecture, there are different implementations and theories in order to store physical data. The database which stores data in the tables that have relationships with other tables in the database is called RDBMS or Relational Database Management System. However, in DBMS or Database Management System, there are no relationships among tables.

DBMS

DBMS is defined as the software program that is used to manage all the databases that are stored on the network or system hard disk. There are different types of database management systems and some of them are configured for specific purposes.

DBMS is available in different forms as a tool that is used to manage databases. Some popular DBMS solutions include DB2, Oracle, FileMaker and Microsoft Access. Using these products, privileges or rights can be created that can be specific to particular users. It means that the administrators of the database can grant specific rights to some users or assign different levels of administration.

Every DBMS has some fundamental elements. First is the implementation of the modeling language which defines the language used for each database. Second, DBMS also administers the data structures. Data query language is the third element of a DBMS. Data structures work with data query language in order to make sure that irrelevant data cannot be entered into the database used in the system.

RDBMS

The database system in which the relationships among different tables are maintained is called Relational Database Management System. Both RDBMS and DBMS are used to store information in physical database.

RDBMS solution is required when large amounts of data are to be stored as well as maintained. A relational data model consists of indexes, keys, foreign keys, tables and their relationships with other tables. Relational DBMS enforces the rules even though foreign keys are support by both RDBMS and DBMS.

In 1970s, Edgar Frank Codd introduced the theory of relational database. Thirteen rules were defined by Codd for this relational theory or model. Relationships among different types of data Is the main requirement of the relational model.

RDMS can be termed as the next generation of database management system. DBMS is used as a base model in order to store data in a relational database system. However, complex business applications use RDBMS rather than DBMS.

DBMS vs. RDBMS

• Relationship among tables is maintained in a RDBMS whereas this not the case DBMS as it is used to manage the database.

• DBMS accepts the ‘flat file’ data that means there is no relation among different data whereas RDBMS does not accepts this type of design.

• DBMS is used for simpler business applications whereas RDBMS is used for more complex applications.

• Although the foreign key concept is supported by both DBMS and RDBMS but its only RDBMS that enforces the rules.

• RDBMS solution is required by large sets of data whereas small sets of data can be managed by DBMS.