3.1: Before Computers
Early databases were files that were a part of an application. As application data increased in size and complexity, databases became subsystems of applications. Though they contained information relevant for other applications, they had to be redesigned or re-implemented to integrate into those applications. Moreover, they often needed to be extended with other application data, such as enterprise data. These needs led to the design of a database as a common system that could be easily interfaced as a subsystem of many other applications. Database management systems were developed using different models that depended on the requirements of certain applications.
This article makes several key points, and notes how the evolution of database technology reflects the evolution of how we model the world around us and is driven by the need to address the complexities that result from a proliferation of data. The growing demand for data and better data accessibility has led to a surge in the amount and quality of data available to people and organizations, databases have become so common that organizations are structured to reflect the model of their data.
Watch this lecture, which gives an overview of the evolution of both traditional and non-traditional databases.