What is a database?
There may be a handful of different definitions of a database, all of which might be correct, but there is one definition that best serves the purpose of data analytics. A database is a technological solution to store and retrieve data both effectively and efficiently.
While it is true that databases are the technological foundations of data analytics, effective analytics do not happen inside them and that is a great thing. We want databases to be good at what they are meant to do: the effective and efficient storage and retrieval of data. We want a database to be fast, accurate, and secure. We also want a database to be able to serve our needs as regards quick sharing and synching.
When we want to get some data from databases for analytics purposes, it is easy to forget that databases are not designed to serve our analytics purposes. So, it should not be a surprise that the data in the database is organized in a way that serves its functions – the...