Database software is primarily used to store and manage data/databases, typically in a structured format. It generally provides a graphical interface that allows users to create, edit and manage data fields and records in a tabular or organized form. The data/database stored using this software can be retrieved in a raw or report based format.

Although database software is similar to database management software (DBMS), most database software lacks native language support, such as SQL, MySQL or any other database querying language. For example, MS Access software allows users to create, manage and query a database using its GUI controls and features, without having to write programming queries.

DataBase Management System

A database management system (DBMS) is a software package designed to define, manipulate, retrieve and manage data in a database. A DBMS generally manipulates the data itself, the data format, field names, record structure and file structure. It also defines rules to validate and manipulate this data. A DBMS relieves users of framing programs for data maintenance. Fourth-generation query languages, such as SQL, are used along with the DBMS package to interact with a database.

DataBase Server

The term database server may refer to both hardware and software used to run a database, according to the context. As software, a database server is the back-end portion of a database application, following the traditional client-server model. This back-end portion is sometimes called the instance. It may also refer to the physical computer used to host the database. When mentioned in this context, the database server is typically a dedicated higher-end computer that hosts the database.

Client Server Model

The client-server model is a distributed communication framework of network processes among service requestors, clients and service providers. The client-server connection is established through a network or the Internet.

The client-server model is a core network computing concept also building functionality for email exchange and Web/database access. Web technologies and protocols built around the client-server model are:

• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
• Domain Name System (DNS)
• Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
• Telnet

Clients include Web browsers, chat applications, and email software, among others. Servers include Web, database, application, chat and email, etc