1.3. Data Dictionary

Data dictionary (also called information repositories) are mini database management systems that manages metadata. It is a repository of information about a database that documents data elements of a database. The data dictionary is an integral part of the database management systems (DBMSs) and stores metadata, or information about the database, attribute names and definitions for each table in the database. Data dictionaries aid the database administrator in the management of a database, user view definitions as well as their use.

The most general structure of a data dictionary is shown in Fig. 1.8. It contains descriptions of the database structure and database use. The data in the data dictionary are maintained by several ...

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