This is our second KS3 ICT quiz on data storage. Computer data storage provides one of the core functions of the modern computer, that of keeping valuable information safely and accurately. Each time data is transferred, it is possible that it may be changed slightly due to defects in the system. We say that data altered in this way has been corrupted. When saving any data, it is always good to have a separate back-up copy. This could be on an external hard drive, USB flash memory or something like a CD-ROM.
Data storage is normally organised into records and fields in a database, text files or images. The simplest database is known as a flat file. This is a file in which the data is stored in one single table. More complex databases contain data in different tables and are called relational databases. These are very useful where one item can have several different pieces of data stored about it e.g. the different books borrowed from a library by one person.
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You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Data and databases
Whatever seems most suitable in the circumstances
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Not making a second copy of valuable data is a serious error
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Viruses are deliberate attacks
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There are various reasons why hackers break into computer systems - it is often done as part of a criminal activity
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Often saved as a CSV (comma separated variable) text file
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Flat file databases are best used where the amount of data is not too large
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In a relational database, the fields of one record can be spread between several tables
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Updating records might be done using a 'form'
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It can be easier to read printed data than looking directly at the database fields
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Frequently changing stored data needs frequent back-ups. The longer that you leave it between back-ups, the more data you could lose if you had a disaster like the computer breaking down
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