Definition List

Requirements

The size and reliability of the server with respect to cost and the client-base the web host needs to support.

Design

The process of creating the database according to the specifications of the customer.

Build

The database is constructed based on the requirements and design.

Test

Testing the strengths and weaknesses of the database and the server it functions on.

Deploy

The final product is released into service.

Documentation

Tracking the steps necessary to create a database.

Client

The user's computer (PC, Mac, workstation). The term implies that the client is connected to a network.

Server

A server is a computer/device which provides information or services to computers on a network.

Database

A Computer Database is a structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system. The structure is achieved by organizing the data according to a database model. The model in most common use today is the relational model. Other models such as the hierarchical model and the network model use a more explicit representation of relationships (see below for explanation of the various database models).

Data Warehouse

A large store of data for analysis. Organizations use data warehouses (and smaller 'data marts') to help them analyze historic transaction data to detect useful patterns and trends. First of all the data is transferred into the data warehouse using a process called extracting, transforming and loading (ETL). Then it is organized and stored in the data warehouse in ways that optimize it for high-performance analysis. The transfer to a separate data warehouse system, which is usually performed as a regular batch job every night or at some other interval, insulates the live transaction systems from any side-effects of the analysis, but at the cost of not having the very latest data included in the analysis.

Data Mining

Data mining is the use of automated data analysis techniques to uncover previously undetected relationships among data items. Data mining often involves the analysis of data stored in a data warehouse. Three of the major data mining techniques are regression, classification and clustering.