What is Oracle?
What is Oracle?
Oracle (in it’s various incarnations such as 9i, 10g, etc.) is an incredibly powerful tool called a database management system (or DBMS) used by thousands of companies across the globe to manage information, such as pricing and inventory. As you probably know, a database is simply a structured collection of records or data -- this kind of structured recordkeeping existed long before computers (or electricity, for that matter), but in the late 1970's, Oracle Systems released the first major version of their flagship product; a commercially available database management system designed for use with the Structured Query Language, or SQL. In short, this meant that any company could now manage their data electronically, using SQL commands to manipulate and control their information. Over the last three decades, Oracle software has continued to change the way people work with databases, offering some of the first internet solutions for information management. At the same time, the product has faced numerous competitors over the years, from giant corporations such as IBM and Microsoft, to newer, smaller open-source projects like MySQL). In many, many companies, however, Oracle is the time-tested standard for database management, and it's likely to stay that way.
What do I do with a database management system?
To be sure; you can store and analyze almost anything with a database, from concepts and ideas, to numbers and names. But one of the most immediately obvious uses (and a great example) is inventory management.
Let's say you own a store, and you sell commemorative plates. If you're going to run a successful business, you're going to need to have certain information available to you at all times. In the case, that information is -- at a minimum -- the different types of plates you sell, the number of plates you have, and how much they cost. Knowing this, a simple database would include all of your plates, and three fields : plate type, plate cost, and plate inventory.
You could, in theory, do this with a notebook and a pen. Of course, if you had fifty different kinds of plates, and people kept buying them (and you kept making more), you'd go through an awful lot of notebooks. If you're smart, you'll build an electronic, relational database and tie it to your order system. That way, when someone orders an Abraham Lincoln plate, the inventory will go down by one automatically. SQL, which mentioned earlier, comes in here as well, allowing you to query the database for specific information (i.e. "how much does the Bob Hope plate cost") whenever you'd like.
If you were working with the aforementioned notebooks, you'd probably want to keep your database as simple as possible, to keep recordkeeping simple. Of course, you'd miss a lot of potentially important information as well -- and that's where the real power of something like an Oracle accounting system comes in. In a digital system, you can record EVERYTHING about your products, and build your own custom queries to give you the results you need. If you ever need obscure information, ("how many of the blue, chipped, Lynnard Skynnard plates are left, how much do they cost, and which warehouses are they located in?") you can build a query for it easily. Giant, fast database management systems mean never having to discard information again.
What do I need to learn about Oracle software?
Building an Oracle database is a serious task, but one that can literally revolutionize the way you do business. If you've already got one, simply learning how to take advantage of your Oracle system can be nearly as transformative. After all, an effective Oracle database takes into account...
Security - A powerful database contains a LOT of information, including some that is potential sensitive (order history, financial information). Since many databases are managed remotely via the internet, security is more important than ever. Oracle databases can be designed to be incredibly secure, but you'll want to make sure you know what you're doing if you've got potentially valuable data involved.
Multiple Users - Our theoretical plate company might just be run by you, or it may have thousands of employees in different locations who all need different kinds of data. Fortunately, Oracle databases can take this into account, and create custom access and reporting information based on the user.
SQL - Whoever is running your Oracle database (whether it's you or someone you hire) is going to need a solid grasp on SQL if you're ever going to get anything out of your DBMS. SQL is what makes a database useful, powerful, and customizable, and Oracle is no exception.
There's a much, much, much more to learn, but that's really only a reflection of how powerful Oracle is. Business management has become electronic in large part due to Oracle's innovations, and staying on top of their latest ones is quite possibly the best thing you can do to keep your business running smoothly.
Here are some training courses that match this article:
Oracle 9i/10g SQL Programming
Introduction to Oracle 9i/10g Programming
Oracle 10g Database Administration
Oracle 10g New Features For Administrators
Introduction to Oracle9i/10g PL/SQL Programming
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