Access Services
When a database is developed for public use, it is usually made accessible to users through a telephone connection to the host computer ("online") where it resides; wireless access, however, is gaining importance as a technology for access.
Database services may be provided by the producer of the database or, more commonly, by a separate organizati.
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Availability of Online Public Databases
The range of public databases has grown to the extent that it is now possible to find data on almost any subject.
Databases have been created for nearly every major field and many subfields in science, technology, medicine, business, law, social sciences, politics, arts, humanities, and religion as well as for news (worldwide, regional, or subject-.
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Definitions
The term "database" is used in two senses.
One refers to the organized collection of data that is created, maintained, and searched.
The other refers to the software that is used to create and maintain the data.
Database management systems are often simply called "databases." This entry concentrates on large, publicly available databases, together .
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Production and Distribution
Databases are produced by a wide variety of commercial, governmental, academic, and nonprofit organizations.
The way in which a database is created depends on whether it is a primary database (e.g., containing the text of an original article) or a secondary database (e.g., providing references, abstracts, or index entries associated with an origina.
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Types of Databases
Databases are organized and maintained in different ways for different types of information (i.e., words, numbers, sounds, and images).
Each information type has a distinctive machine representation and requires a distinct kind of software.
Word-oriented databases contain words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or text as their principal data.
The p.
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Users and Access
Users of public databases include most groups of people whose profession, business, and educational activities require quick access to information.
This includes scientists, lawyers, doctors, stockbrokers, financial analysts, librarians, executives, students, and other researchers.
Some public databases and search services are focused on consumer n.