short essay on database

What Is a Database?

A database is a systematic way of storing information so data can be accessed, analyzed, transformed, updated and moved with efficiency.

A database is simply a structured and systematic way of storing information to be accessed, analyzed, transformed, updated and moved (to other databases). 

To begin understanding databases, consider an Excel notebook or Google sheet. Spreadsheets like these are a basic form of a table. Databases are almost exclusively organized in tables and those tables have rows and columns. So, think of a simple database as a collection of spreadsheets (or tables) joined together in a systematic way.

Database Definition

A database is a way for organizing information, so users can quickly navigate data, spot trends and perform other actions. Although databases may come in different formats, most are stored on computers for greater convenience.

Databases are stored on servers either on-premises at an organization’s office or off-premises at an organization’s data center (or even within their cloud infrastructure). Databases come in many formats in order to do different things with various types of data. 

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Why Do We Use Databases?

Computerized databases were first introduced to the world in the 1960s and have since become the foundation for products, analysis, business processes and more. Many of the services you use online every day (banking, social media, shopping, email) are all built on top of databases.

Today, databases are used for many reasons.

Databases Hold Data Efficiently

We use databases because they are an extremely efficient way of holding vast amounts of data and information. Databases around the world store everything from your credit card transactions to every click you make within one of your social media accounts. Given there are nearly eight billion people on the planet,  that’s a lot of data . 

Databases Allow Smooth Transactions

Databases allow access to various services which, in turn, allow you to access your accounts and perform transactions all across the internet. For example, your bank’s login page will ping a database to figure out if you’ve entered the right password and username. Your favorite online shop pings your credit card’s database to pull down the funds needed for you to buy that item you’ve been eyeing. 

Databases Update Information Quickly

Databases allow for easy information updates on a regular basis. Adding a video to your TikTok account, directly depositing your salary into your bank account or buying a plane ticket for your next vacation are all updates made to a database and displayed back to you almost instantaneously. 

Databases Simplify Data Analysis

Databases make research and data analysis much easier because they are highly structured storage areas of data and information. This means businesses and organizations can easily analyze databases once they know how a database is structured. Common structures (e.g. table formats, cell structures like date or currency fields) and common database querying languages (e.g.,  SQL ) make database analysis easy and efficient. 

What Is a Database Management System?

A database management system (DBMS) is a software package we use to create and manage databases. In other words, a DBMS makes it possible for users to actually interact with the database. In other words, the DBMS is the user interface (UI) that allows us to access, add, modify and delete content from the database. There are several types of database management systems, including relations, non-relational and hierarchical.

Evolution of Databases

Storing information is nothing new, but the rise of computers in the 1960s marked a shift toward more digital forms of databases. While working for GE, Charles Bachman created the Integrated Data Store, ushering in a new age of computerized databases. IBM soon followed suit with its Information Management System, a hierarchical database. 

In the 1970s, IBM’s Edgar F. Codd released a paper touting the benefits of relational databases, leading to IBM and the University of California, Berkeley releasing their own models. Relational databases became popular in the following years, with more businesses developing models and using Structured Query Language (SQL). Even though object-oriented databases became an alternative in the 1980s, relational databases remained the gold standard. 

The invention of the World Wide Web led to greater demand for databases in the 1990s. MySQL and NoSQL databases entered the scene, competing with the commercial databases developed by businesses. Object-oriented databases also began to replace relational databases in popularity.        

During the 2000s and 2010s, organizations began to collect larger volumes of data, and many turned to the scalability offered by NoSQL databases. Distributed databases provided another way to organize this proliferating data , storing it away in multiple locations.  

Types of Databases

There are many types of databases used today. Below are some of the more prominent ones.

1. Hierarchical Databases 

Hierarchical databases were the earliest form of databases. You can think of these databases like a simplified family tree. There’s a singular parent object (like a table) that has child objects (or tables) under it. A parent can have one or many child objects but a child object only has one parent. The benefit of these databases are that they’re incredibly fast and efficient plus there’s a clear, threaded relationship from one object to another. The downside to hierarchical databases is that they’re very rigid and highly structured. 

2. Relational Databases  

Relational databases are perhaps the most popular type of database. Relational databases are set up to connect their objects (like tables) to each other with keys. For example, there might be one table with user information (name, username, date of birth, customer number) and another table with purchase information (customer number, item purchased, price paid). In this example, the key that creates a relationship between the tables is the customer number. 

3. Non-Relational or NoSQL Databases  

Non-relational databases were invented more recently than relational databases and hierarchical databases in response to the growing complexity of web applications. Non-relational databases are any database that doesn’t use a relational model. You might also see them referred to as  NoSQL databases . Non-relational databases store data in different ways such as unstructured data, structured document format or as a graph. Relational databases are based on a rigid structure whereas non-relational databases are more flexible.

4. Cloud Databases

Cloud databases refer to information that’s accessible in a hybrid or cloud environment. All users need is an internet connection to reach their files and manipulate them like any other database. A convenience of cloud databases is that they don’t require extra hardware to create more storage space. Users can either build a cloud database themselves or pay for a service to get started.

5. Centralized Databases

Centralized databases are contained within a single computer or another physical system. Although users may access data through devices connected within a network, the database itself operates from one location. This approach may work best for larger companies or organizations that want to prioritize data security and efficiency.

6. Distributed Databases

Distributed databases run on more than one device. That can be as simple as operating several computers on the same site, or a network that connects to many devices. An advantage of this method is that if one computer goes down, the other computers and devices keep functioning.  

7. Object-Oriented Databases 

Object-oriented databases perceive data as objects and classes. Objects are specific data — like names and videos — while classes are groups of objects. Storing data as objects means users don’t have to distribute data across tables. This makes it easier to determine the relationships between variables and analyze the data. 

8. Graph Databases

Graph databases highlight the relationships between various data points. While users may have to do extra work to determine trends in other types of databases, graph databases store relationships right next to the data itself. Users can then immediately see how various data points are connected to each other.  

What Are the Components of a Database?

The components of a database vary slightly depending on whether the database is hierarchical, relational or non-relational. However, here’s a list of database components you might expect to be associated with any database.

The database schema is essentially the  design of the database . A schema is developed at the early conceptual stages of building a database. It’s also a valuable source of ongoing information for those wanting to understand the database’s design. 

Constraints and Rules

Databases use constraints to determine what types of tables can (and cannot) be stored and what types of data can live in the columns or rows of the database tables, for example. These constraints are important because they ensure data is structured, less corruptible by unsanctioned  data structures and that the database is regulated so users know what to expect. These constraints are also the reason why databases are considered rigid.

Metadata is essentially the data about the data. Each database or object has metadata, which the database software reads in order to understand what’s in the database. You can think of metadata as the database schema design and constraints combined together so a machine knows what kind of database it is and what actions can (or can’t) be performed within the database. 

Query Language

Each database can be queried. In this case, “queried” means people or services can access the database. That querying is done by way of a particular language or code snippet. The most common querying language is SQL (Structured Query Language) but there are also many other languages and even SQL variations like  MySQL , Presto and Hive.

Each database is a collection of objects. There are a few different types of objects stored within databases such as tables, views, indexes, sequences and synonyms. The most well known of these are tables, like spreadsheets, that store data in rows and columns. You may also hear the term “object instance,” which is simply an instance or element of an object. For example, a table called “Transactions” in a database is an instance of the object-type table.

Database Advantages

The structured nature of databases offers a range of benefits for professional and casual users alike. Below are some of the more prominent advantages:  

• Improved data sharing and handling
• Improved data storage capacity
• Improved data integrity and data security
• Reduced data inconsistency 
• Quick data access
• Increased productivity
• Improved data-driven decision making  

Database Disadvantages

Although databases can be helpful for many, there are some limitations to consider before investing in a database: 

• High complexity
• Required dedicated database management staff
• Risk of database failure​

Applications of Databases

When used correctly, databases can be a helpful tool for organizations in various industries looking to better arrange their information. Common use cases include:

• Healthcare: storing massive amounts of patient data .
• Logistics: monitoring and analyzing route information and delivery statuses.
• Insurance: storing customer data like addresses, policy details and driver history.
• Finance: handling account details, invoices, stock information and other assets.
• E-commerce: compiling and arranging data on products and customer behavior.
• Transportation: storing passengers’ names, scheduled flights and check-in status.
• Manufacturing: keeping track of machinery status and production goals.
• Marketing: collecting data on demographics, purchasing habits and website visits.
• Education: tracking student grades, course schedules and more.
• Human resources: organizing personnel info, benefits and tax information.

Future of Databases

As organizations handle increasing amounts of data, future databases must be able to keep up. Users will expect databases to be accessible across the globe and able to deal with limitless volumes of data. As a result, it’s likely that more companies will migrate their data to cloud environments. The percent of data stored in the cloud doubled between 2015 and 2022, and there’s reason to believe this percentage will only grow in the years to come. 

With the increase in data has also come a spike in cybersecurity threats , so organizations can be expected to complement their cloud environments with reinforced security measures . Databases will become more easily accessible only for authorized personnel while companies adopt tools and best practices for keeping their data out of the wrong hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a database and a spreadsheet.

Spreadsheets organize data into rows and columns, with each individual cell housing the actual data. Databases also employ rows and columns, but each cell contains a record of data gathered from an external table. As a result, databases provide more ways to arrange and structure information as opposed to spreadsheets.

What is the most commonly used database type?

The most commonly used database type is the relational database.

What is the definition of a database?

A database is highly organized information that is designed to be easily accessible and navigable for users. Most databases are stored on computers, making it possible to quickly analyze, transform and manipulate data in other ways.

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database , any collection of data, or information , that is specially organized for rapid search and retrieval by a computer . Databases are structured to facilitate the storage, retrieval, modification, and deletion of data in conjunction with various data-processing operations. A database management system (DBMS) extracts information from the database in response to queries.

A brief treatment of databases follows. For full treatment, see computer science: Information systems and databases ; information processing .

A database is stored as a file or a set of files. The information in these files may be broken down into records , each of which consists of one or more fields. Fields are the basic units of data storage, and each field typically contains information pertaining to one aspect or attribute of the entity described by the database. Records are also organized into tables that include information about relationships between its various fields. Although database is applied loosely to any collection of information in computer files, a database in the strict sense provides cross-referencing capabilities. Using keywords and various sorting commands, users can rapidly search, rearrange, group, and select the fields in many records to retrieve or create reports on particular aggregates of data.

Database records and files must be organized to allow retrieval of the information. Queries are the main way users retrieve database information. The power of a DBMS comes from its ability to define new relationships from the basic ones given by the tables and to use them to get responses to queries. Typically, the user provides a string of characters, and the computer searches the database for a corresponding sequence and provides the source materials in which those characters appear; a user can request, for example, all records in which the contents of the field for a person’s last name is the word Smith .

The many users of a large database must be able to manipulate the information within it quickly at any given time. Moreover, large business and other organizations tend to build up many independent files containing related and even overlapping data, and their data-processing activities often require the linking of data from several files. Several different types of DBMS have been developed to support these requirements: flat, hierarchical, network, relational, and object-oriented.

Early systems were arranged sequentially (i.e., alphabetically, numerically, or chronologically); the development of direct-access storage devices made possible random access to data via indexes. In flat databases, records are organized according to a simple list of entities; many simple databases for personal computers are flat in structure. The records in hierarchical databases are organized in a treelike structure, with each level of records branching off into a set of smaller categories. Unlike hierarchical databases, which provide single links between sets of records at different levels, network databases create multiple linkages between sets by placing links, or pointers, to one set of records in another; the speed and versatility of network databases have led to their wide use within businesses and in e-commerce . Relational databases are used where associations between files or records cannot be expressed by links; a simple flat list becomes one row of a table, or “relation,” and multiple relations can be mathematically associated to yield desired information. Various iterations of SQL (Structured Query Language) are widely employed in DBMS for relational databases. Object-oriented databases store and manipulate more complex data structures, called “objects,” which are organized into hierarchical classes that may inherit properties from classes higher in the chain; this database structure is the most flexible and adaptable.

The information in many databases consists of natural-language texts of documents; number-oriented databases primarily contain information such as statistics, tables, financial data, and raw scientific and technical data. Small databases can be maintained on personal-computer systems and used by individuals at home. These and larger databases have become increasingly important in business life, in part because they are now commonly designed to be integrated with other office software, including spreadsheet programs.

Typical commercial database applications include airline reservations, production management functions, medical records in hospitals, and legal records of insurance companies. The largest databases are usually maintained by governmental agencies, business organizations, and universities. These databases may contain texts of such materials as abstracts, reports, legal statutes, wire services, newspapers and journals, encyclopaedias, and catalogs of various kinds. Reference databases contain bibliographies or indexes that serve as guides to the location of information in books, periodicals, and other published literature. Thousands of these publicly accessible databases now exist, covering topics ranging from law, medicine, and engineering to news and current events, games, classified advertisements, and instructional courses.

Increasingly, formerly separate databases are being combined electronically into larger collections known as data warehouses . Businesses and government agencies then employ “ data mining ” software to analyze multiple aspects of the data for various patterns. For example, a government agency might flag for human investigation a company or individual that purchased a suspicious quantity of certain equipment or materials, even though the purchases were spread around the country or through various subsidiaries.

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What Is a Database? Essay Example

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You are free to use it as an inspiration or a source for your own work.

This tutorial video introduces the concept of a database, which is essentially an organized collection of data. Databases could be used for many different purposes in many different industries. In the modern setting, databases refer to software programs that are able to collect and sort data from indicated sources. This information is then stored for later use in a manner that allows this information to be accessible by individuals either locally or internationally. Databases allow for collaborative projects due to the creation of software extensions that allow the information to be shared and viewed more readily than alternatives, such as Excel spreadsheets.

One of the better known database systems is called the Microsoft SQL (Structured Query Language) Server, and main purpose is to store information from other applications that are running on a network. As a consequence, these applications are utilized to store a wealth of data from a variety of different processes and are ideally used in large office settings. The query languages used for this type of system include T-SQL and ANSI SQL. There are many versions of the database software available, and different versions are generally utilized depending upon the needs of the organizations that employ them.

Understanding Database Tables and Records

In databases, the tables are the components of the systems that are used to physically store the data once it is collected. Individuals who wish to retrieve this data for use can scan through these tables using search queries to find the information they desire. While this can also be done manually, databases that are used for the purpose of storing and sorting through a wealth of information are not useful when sorted manually. Therefore, these queries can be used to provide specific information requests and data could then be collected on this basis. A data table is set up similarly to an Excel spreadsheet, with vertical columns and horizontal rows. Each column or row will allow the information to be sorted according to its commonalities. The cell, which meets at the point where the vertical column and horizontal rows intersect, contains the potential data of interest. While tables typically have a specific number of columns, it can have any amount of rows, which is indicative of the amount of data that is stored. Rows are classified according to one or more values and value constraints exist within the contents of particular columns.

Tables can be considered to be a representation of a data relationship. However, relationships can only be determined accurately if the information is sorted using the “order by” and select clauses. Otherwise, there is no guarantee that the information will be sorted according to their relationships. Therefore, care must be taken when examining the data to ensure that relationships are not assumed depending on how the information is sorted. Any relationship or correlation should be determined only in a manner that causes related data to remain together in either column or row form.

More about Column Data Types and Other Properties

Each column in the database is required to have a data name in addition to a data type. There are many general data types in SQL. Some of these types are summarized in the following table:

The commands help the user ultimately distinguish between qualitative and quantitative data so that they may gain a better understanding of the data with relation to its type. It is important for these commands to be used properly to ensure that any relevant data analysis produces meaningful results.

Designing Relational Database Tables

  Relational database tables are designed by creating a set of tuples are records that are present in the data rows. In order for this to be done, it is necessary to determine which categories the data should fall into in addition to how this information should be sorted properly. These relationships must take logical forms in order to be meaningful. In a one to one design pattern, two pieces of information could be related to one another but relationships with greater than this association cannot be determined. Primary keys are used to define such relationships, which allows the user to have a more accurate understanding of the meaning of the information presented before him or her. A one to many relationship could also be created using the database system by allowing the PK to migrate to another table to become a foreign key. This is valuable because it expands the utility of the data gathered on these information systems, allowing it to be used practically.

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Introduction to databases

Comparing database types: how database types evolved to meet different needs, introduction, legacy databases: paving the way for modern systems, relational databases: working with tables as a standard solution to organize well-structured data, nosql databases: modern alternatives for data that doesn't fit the relational paradigm, newsql databases: bringing modern scalability and performance to the traditional relational pattern, multi-model databases: combining the characteristics of more than one type of database, other database types.

Database types , sometimes referred to as database models or database families, are the patterns and structures used to organize data within a database management system. Many different database types have been developed over the years. Some are mainly historic predecessors to current databases, while others have stood the test of time. In the last few decades, new types have been developed to address changing requirements and different use patterns.

Your choice of database type can have a profound impact on what kind of operations your application can easily perform, how you conceptualize your data, and the features that your database management system offers you during development and runtime. In this guide, we'll take a look at how database types have evolved over time and what advantages and trade-offs are present in each design.

Legacy database types represent milestones on the path to modern databases. These may still find a foothold in certain specialized environments, but have mostly been replaced by more robust alternatives for production environments.

This section is dedicated to historic database types that aren't used much in modern development. You can skip ahead to the section on relational databases if you aren't interested in that background.

Flat-file databases: simple data structures for organizing small amounts of local data

The simplest way to manage data on a computer outside of an application is to store it in a basic file format. The first solutions for data management used this approach and it is still a popular option for storing small amounts of information without heavy requirements.

The first flat file databases represented information in regular, machine parse-able structures within files. Data is stored in plain text, which limits the type of content that can be represented within the database itself. Sometimes, a special character or other indicator is chosen to use as a delimiter , or marker for when one field ends and the next begins. For example, a comma is used in CSV (comma-separated values) files, while colons or white-space are used in many data files in Unix-like systems. Other times, no delimiter is used and instead, fields are defined with a fixed length which can be padded for shorter values.

/etc/passwd on * nix systems:

The /etc/passwd file defines users, one per line. Each user has attributes like name, user and group IDs, home directory and default shell, each separated by a colon.

While flat file databases are simple, they are very limited in the level of complexity they can handle. The system that reads or manipulates the data cannot make easy connections between the data represented. File-based systems usually don't have any type of user or data concurrency features either. Flat file databases are usually only practical for systems with small read or write requirements. For example, many operating systems use flat-files to store configuration data.

In spite of these limitations, flat-file databases are still widely used for scenarios where local processes need to store and organized small amounts of data. A good example of this is for configuration data for many applications on Linux and other Unix-like systems. In these cases, the flat-file format serves as an interface that both humans and applications can easily read and manage. Some advantages of this format are that it has robust, flexible tooling, is easily managed without specialized software, and is easy to understand and work with.

• /etc/passwd and /etc/fstab on Linux and Unix-like systems

Hierarchical databases: using parent-child relationships to map data into trees

Initial introduction: 1960s

Hierarchical databases were the next evolution in database management development. They encode a relationship between items where every record has a single parent. This builds a tree-like structure that can be used to categorize records according to their parent record.

This simple relationship mapping provides users with the ability to establish relationships between items in a tree structure. This is very useful for certain types of data, but does not allow for complex relationship management. Furthermore, the meaning of the parent-child relationship is implicit. One parent-child connection could be between a customer and their orders, while another might represent an employee and the equipment they have been allocated. The structure of the data itself does not distinguish between these relationships.

Hierarchical databases are the beginning of a movement towards thinking about data management in more complex terms. The trajectory of database management systems that were developed afterwards continues this trend.

Hierarchical databases are not used much today due to their limited ability to organize most data and because of the overhead of accessing data by traversing the hierarchy. However, a few incredibly important systems could be considered hierarchical databases. A filesystem, for instance, can be thought of as a specialized hierarchical database, as the system of files and directories fit neatly into the single-parent / multiple-child paradigm. Likewise, DNS and LDAP systems both act as databases for hierarchical datasets.

• Filesystems
• LDAP directories

Network databases: mapping more flexible connections with non-hierarchical links

Initial introduction: late 1960s

Network databases built on the foundation provided by hierarchical databases by adding additional flexibility. Instead of always having a single parent, as in hierarchical databases, network database entries can have more than one parent, which effectively allows them to model more complex relationships. When talking about network databases, it is important to realize that network is being used to refer to connections between different data entries, not connections between different computers or software.

Network databases can be represented by a generic graph instead of a tree . The meaning of the graph was defined by a schema , which lays out what each data node and each relationship represents. This gave structure to the data in a way that could previously only be reached through inference.

Definition: Schema A database schema is a description of the logical structure of a database or the elements it contains. Schemas often include declarations for the structure of individual entries, groups of entries, and the individual attributes that database entries are comprised of. These may also define data types and additional constraints to control the type of data that may be added to the structure.

Network databases were a huge leap forward in terms of flexibility and the ability to map connections between information. However, they were still limited by the same access patterns and design mindset of hierarchical databases. For instance, to access data, you still needed to follow the network paths to the record in question. The parent-child relationship carried over from hierarchical databases also affected the way that items could connect to one another.

It is difficult to find modern examples of network database systems. Setting up and working with network databases required a good deal of skill and specialized domain knowledge. Most systems that could be approximated using network databases found a better fit once relational databases appeared.

Initial introduction: 1969

Relational databases are the oldest general purpose database type still widely used today. In fact, relational databases comprise the majority of databases currently used in production .

Relational databases organize data using tables . Tables are structures that impose a schema on the records that they hold. Each column within a table has a name and a data type . Each row represents an individual record or data item within the table, which contains values for each of the columns. Relational databases get their name from mathematical relationships that use tuples (like the rows in a table) to represent ordered sets of data.

Special fields in tables, called foreign keys , can contain references to columns in other tables. This allows the database to bridge the two tables on demand to bring different types of data together.

The highly organized structure imparted by the rigid table structure, combined with the flexibility offered by the relations between tables makes relational databases very powerful and adaptable to many types of data. Conformity can be enforced at the table level, but database operations can combine and manipulate that data in novel ways.

While not inherent to the design of relational databases, a querying language called SQL , or structured query language, was created to access and manipulate data stored with that format. It can query and join data from multiple tables within a single statement. SQL can also filter, aggregate, summarize, and limit the data that it returns. So while SQL is not a part of the relational system, it is often a fundamental part of working with these databases.

Definition: SQL SQL, or structured querying language, is a language family used to query and manipulate data within relational databases. It excels at combining data from multiple tables and filtering based on constraints which allow it to be used to express complex queries. Variants of the language has been adopted by almost all relational databases due to its flexibility, power, and ubiquity.

In general, relational databases are often a good fit for any data that is regular, predictable, and benefits from the ability to flexibly compose information in various formats. Because relational databases work off of a schema, it can be more challenging to alter the structure of data after it is in the system. However, the schema also helps enforce the integrity of the data, making sure values match the expected formats, and that required information is included. Overall, relational databases are a solid choice for many applications because applications often generate well-ordered, structured data.

NoSQL is a term for a varied collection of modern database types that offer approaches that differ from the standard relational pattern. The term NoSQL is somewhat of a misnomer since the databases within this category are more of a reaction against the relational archetype rather than the SQL querying language. NoSQL is said to stand for either "non-SQL" or "not only SQL" to sometimes clarify that they sometimes allow for SQL-like querying.

Key-value databases: simple, dictionary-style lookups for basic storage and retrieval

Initial introduction: 1970s | Rise in popularity: 2000-2010

Key-value databases , or key-value stores, are one of the simplest database types. Key-value stores work by storing arbitrary data accessible through a specific key . To store data, you provide a key and the blob of data you wish to save, for example a JSON object, an image, or plain text. To retrieve data, you provide the key and will then be given the blob of data back. In most basic implementations, the database does not evaluate the data it is storing and allows limited ways of interacting with it.

If key-value stores appear simple, it's because they are. But that simplicity is often an asset in the kinds of scenarios where they are most often deployed. Key-value stores are often used to store configuration data, state information, and any data that might be represented by a dictionary or hash in a programming language. Key-value stores provide fast, low-complexity access to this type of data.

Some implementations provide more complex actions on top of this foundation according the basic data type stored under each key. For instance, they might be able to increment numeric values or perform slices or other operations on lists. Since many key-value stores load their entire datasets into memory, these operations can be completed very efficiently.

Key-value databases don't prescribe any schema for the data they store, and as such, are often used to store many different types of data at the same time. The user is responsible for defining any naming scheme for the keys that will help identify the values and are responsible for ensuring the value is of the appropriate type and format. Key-value storage is most useful as a lightweight solution for storing simple values that can be operated on externally after retrieval.

One of the most popular uses for key-value databases are to store configuration values and application variables and flags for websites and web applications. Programs can check the key-value store, which is usually very fast, for their configuration when they start. This allows you to alter the runtime behavior of your services by changing the data in the key-value store. Applications can also be configured to recheck periodically or to restart when they see changes. These configuration stores are often persisted to disk periodically to prevent loss of data in the event of a system crash.

Document databases: Storing all of an item's data in flexible, self-describing structures

Rise in popularity: 2009

Document databases , also known as document-oriented databases or document stores, share the basic access and retrieval semantics of key-value stores. Document databases also use a key to uniquely identify data within the database. In fact, the line between advanced key-value stores and document databases can be fairly unclear. However, instead of storing arbitrary blobs of data, document databases store data in structured formats called documents, often using formats like JSON, BSON, or XML.

Though the data within documents is organized within a structure, document databases do not prescribe any specific format or schema. Each document can have a different internal structure that the database interprets. So, unlike with key-value stores, the content stored in document databases can be queried and analyzed.

In some ways, document databases sit in between relational databases and key-value stores. They use the simple key-value semantics and loose requirements on data that key-value stores are known for, but they also provide the ability to impose a structure that you can use to query and operate on the data in the future.

The comparison with relational databases shouldn't be overstated, however. While document databases provide methods of structuring data within documents and operating on datasets based on those structures, the guarantees, relationships, and operations available are very different from relational databases.

Document databases are a good choice for rapid development because you can change the properties of the data you want to save at any point without altering existing structures or data. You only need to backfill records if you want to. Each document within the database stands on its own with its own system of organization. If you're still figuring out your data structure and your data is mainly composed discrete entries that don't include a lot of cross references, a document database might be a good place to start. Be careful, however, as the extra flexibility means that you are responsible for maintaining the consistency and structure of your data, which can be extremely challenging.

Graph databases: mapping relationships by focusing on how connections between data are meaningful

Rise in popularity: 2000s

Graph databases are a type of NoSQL database that takes a different approach to establishing relationships between data. Rather than mapping relationships with tables and foreign keys, graph databases establish connections using the concepts of nodes , edges , and properties .

Graph databases represents data as individual nodes which can have any number of properties associated with them. Between these nodes, edges (also called relationships) are established to represent different types of connections. In this way, the database encodes information about the data items within the nodes and information about their relationship in the edges that connect the nodes.

At a glance, graph databases appear similar to earlier network databases. Both types focus on the connections between items and allow for explicit mapping of relationships between different types of data. However, network databases require step-by-step traversal to travel between items and are limited in the types of relationships they can represent.

Graph databases are most useful when working with data where the relationships or connections are highly important. It is essential to understand that when talking about relational databases, the word "relational" refers to the ability to tie information in different tables together. On the other hand, with graph databases, the primary purpose is defining and managing relationships themselves.

For example, querying for the connection between two users of a social media site in a relational database is likely to require multiple table joins and therefore be rather resource intensive. This same query would be straightforward in a graph database that directly maps connections. The focus of graph databases is to make working this type of data intuitive and powerful.

Column-family databases: databases with flexible columns to bridge the gap between relational and document databases

Column-family databases , also called non-relational column stores, wide-column databases, or simply column databases, are perhaps the NoSQL type that, on the surface, looks most similar to relational databases. Like relational databases, wide-column databases store data using concepts like rows and columns. However, in wide-column databases, the association between these elements is very different from how relational databases use them.

In relational databases, a schema defines the column layout in a table by specifying what columns the table will have, their respective data types, and other criteria. All of the rows in a table must conform to this fixed schema.

Instead of tables, column-family databases have structures called column families . Column families contain rows of data, each of which define their own format. A row is composed of a unique row identifier — used to locate the row — followed by sets of column names and values.

With this design, each row in a column family defines its own schema. That schema can be easily modified because it only affects that single row of data. Each row can have different numbers of columns with different types of data. Sometimes it helps to think of column family databases as key-value databases where each key (row identifier) returns a dictionary of arbitrary attributes and their values (the column names and their values).

Column-family databases are good when working with applications that require great performance for row-based operations and high scalability. Since all of the data and metadata for an entry is accessible with a single row identifier, no computationally expensive joins are required to find and pull the information. The database system also typically makes sure all of the data in a row is collocated on the same machine in a cluster, simplifying data sharding and scaling.

However, column-family databases do not work well in all scenarios. If you have highly relational data that requires joins, this is not the right type of database for your application. Column-family databases are firmly oriented around row-based operations. This means that aggregate queries like summing, averaging, and other analytics-oriented processes can be difficult or impossible. This can have a great impact on how you design your applications and what types of usage patterns you can use.

Time series databases: tracking value changes over time

Rise in popularity: 2010s

Time series databases are data stores that focus on collecting and managing values that change over time. Although sometimes considered a subset of other database types, like key-value stores, time series databases are prevalent and unique enough to warrant their own consideration.

Many time series databases are organized into structures that record the values for a single item over time. For example, a table or similar structure could be created to track CPU temperature. Inside, each value would consist of a timestamp and a temperature value to map what the temperature was at specific points in time.

Other implementations use timestamps as keys to store values for multiple metrics or columns at once. For instance, these structures would allow you to store and retrieve the values for CPU temperature, system load, and memory usage using a single timestamp.

In terms of read and write characteristics, time series databases are heavily write oriented. They are designed to handle a constant influx of incoming data. In general, time series databases work with regular, consistent streams of data without many spikes, which makes it simpler to plan around than some other types of data. Performance often depends on the number of items being tracked, the polling interval between recording new values, and the actual data payload that needs to be saved.

Time series databases are typically append-only by nature. Each incoming piece of data is stored as a new value associated with the current point in time. Values already present in the database are usually not modified after ingestion. Since the most valuable data is often the most recent, sometimes older values are aggregated, down sampled, and otherwise summarized at a lower resolution to keep the size of the dataset manageable.

Time series databases are often used to store monitoring or system performance information. This makes them an ideal option for managing infrastructure, especially IoT (internet of things) environments which generate a lot of data. Any monitoring or alerting system that you might use to keep an eye on your deployment environments will likely use some type of time series database.

• TimescaleDB

NoSQL databases are great options for situations where your data does not fit neatly into the relational pattern. Since they were developed more recently, NoSQL systems tend to be designed with scalability and modern performance requirements in mind.

However, until recently, no solution existed to easily scale relational data. To address this need, a new type of relational databases called NewSQL databases were developed.

NewSQL databases follow the relational structure and semantics, but are built using more modern, scalable designs. The goal is to offer greater scalability than relational databases and greater consistency guarantees than NoSQL alternatives. They achieve this by sacrificing certain amounts of availability in the event of a networking partition. The trade offs between consistency and availability is a fundamental problem of distributed databases described by the CAP theorem .

Definition: CAP Theorem The CAP theorem is a statement about the trade offs that distributed databases must make between availability and consistency. It asserts that in the event of a network partition, a distributed database can choose either to remain available or remain consistent, but it cannot do both. Cluster members in a partitioned network can continue operating, leading to at least temporary inconsistency. Alternatively, at least some of the disconnected members must refuse to alter their data during the partition to ensure data consistency.

To address the availability concern, new architectures were developed to minimize the impact of partitions. For instance, splitting data sets into smaller ranges called shards can minimize the amount of data that is unavailable during partitions. Furthermore, mechanisms to automatically alter the roles of various cluster members based on network conditions allow them to regain availability quickly.

Because of these qualities, NewSQL databases are best suited for use cases with high volumes of relational data in distributed, cloud-like environments.

While NewSQL databases offer most of the familiar features of conventional relational databases, there are some important differences that prevent it from being a one-to-one replacement. NewSQL systems are typically less flexible and generalized than their more conventional relational counterparts. They also usually only offer a subset of full SQL and relational features, which means that they might not be able to handle certain kinds of usage. Many NewSQL implementations also store a large part of or their entire dataset in the computer's main memory. This improves performance at the cost of greater risk to unpersisted changes.

NewSQL databases are a good fit for relational datasets that require scaling beyond what conventional relational databases can offer. Because they implement the relational abstraction and provide SQL interfaces, transitioning to a NewSQL database is often more straightforward than moving to a NoSQL alternative. However, it's important to keep in mind that although they mostly seek to replicate the conventional relational environments, there are differences that may affect your deployments. Be sure to research these differences and identify situations where the resemblance breaks down.

• CockroachDB
• PlanetScale

Multi-model databases are databases that combine the functionality of more than one type of database. The benefits of this approach are clear — the same system can use different representations for different types of data.

Collocating the data from multiple database types in the same system allows for novel operations that would be difficult or impossible otherwise. For instance, multi-model databases may allow users to access and manipulate data stored in different database types within a single query. Multi-model databases also help maintain data consistency, which can be a problem when performing operations that modify data in many systems at once.

In terms of management, multi-model databases help lighten the operational footprint of your database systems. Having a multi-functional system allows you to change or expand to new models as your needs change without changes to the underlying infrastructure or the overhead of learning a new system.

It's difficult to talk about the characteristics of multi-model databases as a set category, as they mostly inherit the advantages of the database types they choose to support. It's important to keep in mind that you should evaluate how well individual implementations support the specific database types you require. Some systems may support multiple models, but with unequal feature sets or with important caveats.

Although this guide doesn't cover these in depth, it is worth at least being familiar with some of the other database types available. The following database types deserve a mention, but they are often used less frequently or in niche environments:

• Column-oriented databases: Not to be confused with column-family databases, column-oriented databases are very similar to relational databases, but store data on disk by column instead of by row. This means that all of the data for a single column is together, allowing for faster aggregation on larger data sets. Since the columns are separate from each other, inserting or updating values is a performance intensive task, so column-oriented databases are primarily used for analytical work where entire data sets can be preloaded at one time.
• Semantic RDF graph databases: Semantic RDF graph databases are databases that map objects using the Resource Description Framework. This framework a way to describe, in detail, objects and their relationships by categorizing pieces of data and connections. The idea is to map subjects, actions, and objects like you would in a sentence (for example, "Bill calls Sue"). For most use cases, labeled property graphs, usually just called graph databases , can express relationships more flexibly and concisely.
• Object-oriented databases: Object-oriented databases store data items as objects, seeking to bridge the gap between the representations used by objected-oriented programming languages and databases. Although this solves many problems with translating between different data paradigms, historically, adoption has suffered due to increased complexity, lack of standardization, and difficulty decoupling the data from the original application.

Database types have changed a lot since their initial introduction and new database ideas are actively being developed today. Each of the types used in modern systems have distinct advantages that are worth exploring given the right access patterns, data properties, and requirements. One of the first and most important decisions when starting a new project is evaluating your needs and finding the type that matches your project's demands.

Many times, using a mixture of different database types is the best approach for handling the data of your projects. Your applications and services will influence the type of data being generated as well as the features and access patterns you require. For example, user information for your system might fit best in a relational database, while the configuration values for your services might benefit from an in-memory key-value store. Learning what each type of database offers can help you recognize which systems are best for all of your different types of data.

You can use Prisma work more easily with databases from within your application code. Check out our database connectors page to see all of the databases Prisma supports.

Justin Ellingwood

Prisma's data guide.

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What is a Database? Your Essential Guide to Understanding Databases

By Cristian G. Guasch •  Updated: 07/12/23 • 20 min read

Diving into the tech world, you’ve likely come across the term ‘database’. But what exactly is it? I’m here to unravel this mystery. A database is an organized collection of data stored and accessed electronically. It’s a crucial tool used by organizations to store, retrieve, and manage information efficiently.

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The power of a database lies in its ability to handle large amounts of data while ensuring that it remains accessible and functional for multiple users simultaneously. It’s not just about storage; databases are designed to help sort, filter, search, and analyze the vast amount of information they hold.

From small businesses tracking inventory to multinational corporations managing customer interactions, databases play a pivotal role in our digital age. They’re at the heart of most online services we use every day – social media sites, banking systems, even your favorite streaming platforms wouldn’t function without them. So yes, understanding databases can give us valuable insights into how our digital world operates!

Defining a Database

I’ll start with the basics. What’s data? In plain terms, data can be facts about any object you’re considering. Your name, age, height, weight are all examples of data related to you. Things like images, files and PDFs also qualify as data.

Now let’s delve into what a database is. At its core, it’s a systematic collection of data that supports electronic storage and manipulation of said data. Databases streamline the process of managing your data.

Think about an online telephone directory for example; it uses a database to store people’s information such as phone numbers and other contact details. Or consider your electricity service provider which needs a database to manage billing and handle client-related issues among other things.

Even social media giants like Facebook rely heavily on databases to store and manipulate vast amounts of user data regarding members, their friends’ activities, messages and advertisements – just to name a few! The list of how databases are used goes on indefinitely.

There are numerous types of databases out there each serving different purposes:

• Distributed Databases collect contributions from common databases along with locally captured information.
• Relational Databases define relationships in table formats.
• Object-oriented Databases support the storage of all types of data stored in objects.
• A Centralized Database provides one central location accessible by users from different backgrounds.
• An Open-source Database stores operational information mainly used in marketing or customer service fields.
• A Cloud Database , optimized for virtual environments offers scalability on-demand along with high availability.
• Data warehouses aim at facilitating a single version truth for decision making within companies.
• NoSQL databases come handy when dealing with large sets distributed unstructured datasets.

The components forming any given database generally include hardware (physical devices), software (programs managing the database), procedures (set rules guiding usage), as well as access language enabling interaction with the content stored inside.

A Database Management System (DBMS) is essentially a collection programs helping end-users interact with databases effectively while controlling access levels accordingly. It was first implemented back in 1960s by Charles Bachman’s Integrated Data Store (IDS), evolving significantly ever since due to increased functionalities requirements.

Despite some setbacks including high initial costs for hardware/software setup or complexity requiring extra training for users – DBMS has proven itself indispensable due its efficiency in storing & retrieving relevant information securely while reducing application development time considerably down the line.

In summary: A database is simply that systematic collection where we efficiently store and manipulate our everyday digital life’s worth of raw yet meaningful “data”. This ‘data” forms integral part our ever-evolving interconnected world propelled forward through advancements made in technology like DBMS systems over past decades adding value across various sectors globally today!

The Evolution of Databases Over Time

From my experience, I’ve seen that databases have come a long way since their inception in the 1960s. They’ve evolved from simple flat file systems to become complex software systems, managing vast amounts of data and offering powerful tools for data analysis.

In the beginning, we had hierarchical databases where data was structured like a tree with a single root node and multiple child nodes. This design made sense when storage was expensive and processing power limited. However, it’s limitations became apparent as relational database management systems (RDBMS) were introduced in the 1970s.

The relational model revolutionized how we handle data by treating each item as an object identified by a unique key and related to other items via attributes. This allowed for more flexibility and efficiency in storing and retrieving information.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, we saw another shift with the introduction of object-oriented databases . These databases store data as objects rather than rows or columns making them ideal for applications requiring complex data manipulation such as multimedia applications or CAD software.

Then came along NoSQL databases in the early 2000s which offered an alternative to traditional SQL-based solutions. These were designed specifically for handling large volumes of unstructured data across distributed computing environments.

Today, we’re seeing a trend towards cloud-based database solutions such as Google Cloud Spanner or Amazon DynamoDB that offer scalable storage options and high availability without the need to maintain physical hardware infrastructure.

• Hierarchical Databases
• Relational Databases
• Object-Oriented Databases
• NoSQL Databases
• Cloud-Based Databases

Looking ahead, it’s clear that databases will continue to evolve alongside technological advancements. With emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT) generating massive volumes of diverse datasets, future-generation databases will be expected to efficiently handle these workloads while providing easy access and robust security measures.

To sum up this section about evolution of databases over time: From hierarchical structures back in the day all through relational models down to modern cloud based solutions – there’s no denying that our approach towards organizing digital information has dramatically transformed over decades!

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The Different Types of Databases

Navigating the world of databases, it’s important to understand the diverse types. This will not only increase your knowledge but also help you choose the most suitable one for your specific needs.

• Distributed databases have contributions from common and local computers. The data isn’t in one place, distributed at various locations instead.
• Relational databases , also known as Relational DBMS, define database relationships in table forms. MySQL, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server are examples of this popular DBMS type.
• In contrast to these are Object-oriented databases which support storage of all data types and store data as objects with attributes and methods. PostgreSQL is an example here.
• A Centralized database is a one-stop-shop for users from different backgrounds. It stores application procedures aiding users’ remote access to data.
• Then we have Open-source databases , storing information related to operations and widely used in marketing, employee relations, customer service fields among others.
• A highly advantageous addition is the Cloud database , optimized for virtual environments offering scalability on-demand along with high availability.
• Businesses find great value in using Data warehouses that facilitate a single version of truth essential for decision making and forecasting while containing historical and commutative data from single or multiple sources.
• For large sets of distributed data, you’d turn towards a NoSQL database , efficient in analyzing large-size unstructured data.

And there’s more! We’ve got:

• Graph databases : Using graph theory to store, map, query relationships.
• OLTP databases : Capable of fast query processing while maintaining integrity in multi-access environments.
• Personal databases: Handy for small groups or departments within companies storing manageable sized-data on personal computers.
• Multimodal database: Supports multiple models defining how knowledge should be organized.
• Document/JSON database: Data stored in document collections usually using XML/JSON/BSON formats.
• Hierarchical Database Management Systems (DBMS): Uses “parent-child” relationship model like tree structures where nodes represent records & branches represent fields.
• Network DBMS: Supports many-to-many relations resulting often complex structures (RDM Server is an example).

From understanding what exactly data means to knowing about different types of databases – it’s been quite a journey already! But trust me when I say we’re just getting started. In our next section let’s uncover some intriguing facts about Database Components – stay tuned!

Understanding Database Management Systems (DBMS)

Diving right into the heart of this topic, I’ll start with a simple explanation. A Database Management System (DBMS) is essentially a collection of programs that make it possible for users to create and manage databases. It’s like a toolbox for creating, retrieving, updating, and managing data in an organized way.

DBMS technology has roots back in the 1960s, when Charles Bachman developed the first system known as Integrated Data Store (IDS). Over time, database technologies have evolved significantly in response to increasing demands and functionalities.

As an expert blogger on this topic, it’s crucial for me to give you a clear understanding of different types of DBMS out there:

• Relational DBMS – Probably the most familiar type of DBMS which organizes data into tables. Examples include MySQL, Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server.
• Hierarchical DBMS – This type uses parent-child relationships similar to a tree structure with nodes representing records and branches representing fields.
• Network DBMS – Supports many-to-many relationships often resulting in complex database structures.
• Object-oriented DBMS – This one stores data as objects containing attributes (data) and methods (instructions).
• Graph Databases – Uses graph theory to store map and query relationships.

A key point worth noting about these systems is their ability to provide uniform procedures for maintaining data integrity and security while concurrently accessing data.

However, despite its numerous advantages like efficient storage & retrieval mechanism or reduced application development time, no system is perfect! The cost factor associated with hardware/software acquisition or potential risk due to centralization of all data are some downsides linked with using a DBMS.

But let’s not forget that we’re living in an era where effective management of vast amounts of information is highly critical – hence making databases indispensable!

To sum up what we’ve covered so far: A ‘database’ refers to any systematic collection of electronic stored data; whereas ‘Database Management System’ or ‘DBMS’, equips users with tools needed for handling such collections effectively. Various types exist including relational, hierarchical among others each having their own strengths & weaknesses yet playing pivotal roles within today’s digital landscape!

How Data is Stored in a Database

Diving right into it, databases are more than simple repositories of information. They’re complex systems designed to store, sort, and retrieve data effectively. And how do they achieve this? Through a combination of tables, indexes, and keys.

Tables form the heart of any database. Each table contains multiple rows (also known as records or tuples), with each record being made up of individual fields (or attributes). For instance, a ‘Customer’ table might have fields such as CustomerID, FirstName, LastName and so on.

Just imagine you’ve got an Excel spreadsheet filled with customer data. The columns would represent the different categories of data – name, email address etc., while every row represents one customer’s specific information.

The way these tables are organized is crucial for efficient data storage. Most databases use schemas , blueprints that define how data is organized within tables. Schemas keep things orderly by dictating what kind of information can be stored in each field and how it should be formatted.

Now let’s talk about indexes . Think about an index in a book: it helps you quickly locate specific information without having to read through every single page. Similarly in databases, indexes help speed up retrieval times by providing quick paths to the location of desired data within a table.

However having too many indexes can slow down the speed at which new information is added to the database – because whenever new data is added or existing ones are modified (which happens often), your indexes also need updating!

Lastly we have keys , essential for establishing relationships between different types of information within your database – linking related pieces together just like puzzle pieces! These include primary keys (unique identifiers for records within a table) and foreign keys (identifiers used to establish links between tables).

And voila! That’s essentially how databases store their precious cargo: they break things down into manageable chunks called tables; organize them using schemas; quicken access via indexes; and establish connections through keys.

Exploring the Key Components of a Database

When discussing databases, it’s essential to understand their key components. These are Hardware , Software , Data , Procedure , and Database Access Language .

Firstly, hardware refers to physical devices like computers, I/O devices, storage devices, etc., that provide an interface between computers and real-world systems.

Then there’s software which is a set of programs used to manage and control the overall database. This includes not only the database software itself but also the Operating System, network software for sharing data among users, and application programs for accessing data within the database.

Next up is what we mean by data in this context – unprocessed facts that need some form of processing to become meaningful. Data can be simple as well as complex comprising facts, observations, perceptions numbers characters symbols images and so on.

Procedures are another critical component of databases. They’re essentially instructions or rules guiding us on how to use the DBMS (Database Management System). Procedures assist in designing running the database utilizing documented methods helping guide those who operate manage it.

Lastly we have Database Access Language which is used to access data from a DBMS input new data update existing ones or retrieve required information from it. Users write specific commands in this language which they then submit to the DBMS.

Now let me introduce you to Database Management Systems (DBMS). In simple terms a DBMS is a collection of programs enabling users access manipulate report represent data stored in databases. It also controls who has access to what parts of your database ensuring your sensitive information remains protected at all times

The first-ever DBMS was supposedly Charles Bachman’s Integrated Data Store (IDS). Since its inception back in 1960s database technology has evolved immensely with growing usage expected functionalities.

As with any system there are both advantages disadvantages associated with using a DBMS solution:

Advantages include:

• Varied techniques for storing retrieving data
• Balancing needs multiple applications using same information
• Uniform administration processes for handling data
• Never exposing application programmers details about representation storage of data
• Powerful functions for storing retrieving information efficiently
• Offering high level protection via integrity constraints against unauthorized access
• Scheduling concurrent access preventing multiple users accessing same information simultaneously
• Reducing time spent developing applications

Disadvantages encompass:

• High costs associated with hardware software
• Requirement of user training due complexity most systems
• Potential damage due electric failure corruption on storage media if entire organization’s info stored single system.
• Possible loss some detail when same program used by many people simultaneously. Can’t perform sophisticated calculations

In summary understanding how databases work their key components integral part leveraging benefits they bring table whether you’re small business owner enterprise executive or tech enthusiast like myself!

The Role of Databases in Various Industries

As I dive into the realm of databases, it’s crucial to understand their widespread impact across various industries. From healthcare and education to finance and e-commerce, databases play an integral role in organizing, storing, and managing data.

Healthcare , for instance, relies heavily on databases for patient records management. Everything from a patient’s medical history to their appointment schedules is stored and managed through a database system. This allows healthcare providers to offer personalized care based on comprehensive patient profiles.

The finance industry uses databases for transactional record keeping, customer information management, risk analysis and more. Banks need reliable databases that ensure secure data handling while maintaining speed and efficiency.

In the education sector , universities use databases to manage student records, course enrollment details, grades and more. A well-structured database helps institutions provide better services by maintaining accurate records of students’ academic progress.

And let’s not forget about e-commerce . Online retailers need robust databases to handle vast quantities of product information, customer purchase histories, stock inventory details etc. Without a powerful database system at its core, any e-commerce platform would struggle with delivering seamless shopping experiences to customers.

To give you an idea about the magnitude of data we’re dealing with here:

What this table reveals is how intrinsic databases are in our daily lives – without us even realizing it sometimes!

In conclusion: Databases aren’t just some tech jargon splashed around in IT meetings; they are critical tools shaping multiple sectors today! Unquestionably then understanding what these systems do becomes pivotal as we navigate our increasingly digitized world.

Pros and Cons of Using Databases

Databases are a crucial part of modern business operations. They’ve transformed the way we store, retrieve, and manage data. But like any tool or system, they come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages.

One major advantage is efficiency . Databases streamline data management, allowing for faster access to information and more efficient storage. This can lead to significant time savings for businesses. Moreover, databases provide a centralized location for all your data needs – making it easier for different team members to find what they need.

Another key benefit is improved data integrity . Unlike manual systems where errors can easily creep in, databases maintain strict protocols for data entry and manipulation which significantly reduce the chance of mistakes.

However, it’s not all sunshine and roses when it comes to databases. One downside is that they can be quite expensive to set up initially – especially if you’re opting for an enterprise-grade solution. Not only do you have costs associated with purchasing the software itself but there are also hardware expenses as well as potential costs related to training staff on how to use the new system.

Additionally, databases require regular maintenance and updates which may necessitate having an IT expert on hand – this could be a cost-prohibitive factor for smaller businesses.

Despite these drawbacks though I believe that in today’s fast-paced digital world, the pros of using a database far outweigh its cons.

Ultimately, whether or not your business should use a database will depend on your specific needs and resources available but I’d argue that most organizations would greatly benefit from implementing one.

Common Terms and Concepts in Databases

In the realm of databases, it’s essential to understand a few key concepts. First off, let’s tackle the term data itself. Data represents facts related to any object under consideration. For instance, your name, age, height, and weight are all pieces of data tied to you.

Moving on from data, we have a database – this is simply a systematic collection of data. It supports electronic storage and manipulation of data for efficient management. Think about an online telephone directory or your electricity service provider – they all use databases to manage their operations.

Let’s take a moment to talk about different types of databases:

• Distributed databases : These collect contributions from common databases and information captured by local computers.
• Relational databases : They define database relationships in tables form. MySQL, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server are examples here.
• Object-oriented databases : Here, the data is stored in objects’ form.
• Centralized database : A centralized location where users from various backgrounds can access this stored data.
• Open-source databases : Mainly used for storing operational information.
• Cloud databases : Optimized for virtual environments and offer scalability on-demand along with high availability.

Now that we’ve delved into some essential terms let me introduce you to five main components of a database:

• Hardware: This includes physical electronic devices like computers and storage devices.
• Software: A set comprising the DBMS software itself plus OS and network software necessary for sharing data among users as well as application programs required for accessing database content.
• Data: Raw unorganized facts needing processing before becoming meaningful information.
• Procedures: Set instructions helping you operate the DBMS effectively.
• Database Access Language: The specific commands written by users to submit requests to the DBMS.

Lastly but not least important is understanding what a Database Management System (DBMS) is – it’s essentially a collection of programs enabling its users to access databases manipulate report represent control access & maintain security within them.

There are both advantages such as uniform administration procedures efficient storage retrieval methods powerful functions offering integrity constraints concurrent scheduling reduced development time & disadvantages like elevated hardware/software costs complexity requiring user training potential damage due loss corruption concurrent program usage inability performing sophisticated calculations associated with using a DBMS system.

In summary knowing these terms concepts will help anyone navigate world of databases more confidently efficiently!

Wrapping Up: What We’ve Learned About Databases

We’ve journeyed through the world of databases together, and I’m confident we’ve gained a firm understanding of what a database is. Simply put, it’s a systematic collection of data that supports electronic storage and manipulation. Whether it’s an online telephone directory storing contact details or Facebook managing user data, databases are integral to our digital landscape.

We also dived into the diverse types of databases out there. Distributed databases that store information across various organizations, relational ones utilizing tables for relationships, object-oriented ones storing all sorts of data types in objects – each with their unique strengths and uses.

And let’s not forget about centralized databases providing remote access to users from different backgrounds or open-source ones used primarily in operations like marketing and customer service. Cloud databases offer scalability on-demand and high availability while data warehouses provide a single version of truth for an organization’s decision-making.

Databases like NoSQL handle large sets of distributed data well whereas graph-oriented ones excel at mapping and querying relationships. Other kinds include OLTP databases, personal ones for smaller groups, multimodal ones supporting multiple data models, document/JSON types keeping data in document collections, hierarchical structures using parent-child relationships and network DBMS supporting many-to-many relations.

I hope you now have a better grasp on the five main components of a database as well – hardware (the physical devices), software (programs managing the database), procedure (instructions guiding users), Database Access Language (language accessing data) along with the raw unorganized facts themselves – the very crux of any database: Data!

The evolution of Database Management Systems (DBMS) has been quite remarkable too. From Charles Bachman’s Integrated Data Store back in 1960 to today’s advanced systems offering powerful functions to efficiently store & retrieve data while ensuring its integrity & security.

However beneficial they may be though DBMSs do come with some drawbacks such as high hardware & software costs, complex systems requiring training for use and potential damage or loss due to concurrent usage by multiple users or system failures.

But overall my aim here was never to dissuade you from exploring this fascinating world but rather arm you with knowledge so you can navigate it more confidently! With this newfound understanding I’m sure you’ll agree that despite minor setbacks DBMSs still prove invaluable when it comes down to efficient data management making them essential components in any modern digital infrastructure!

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Computer Technology: Databases Essay

Databases are components of Information Systems that are used when the Information Systems have large amounts of a, especially when the interfaces in the Information System are interactive, and when users can access the system concurrently. The use of databases in such a scenario, therefore, ensures that information is available to users in real-time, and that system performance bottlenecks are minimized due to appropriate data management. There is a variety of databases from which an organization can choose. The choice of the database application depends on the volume of data that a particular Management Information System will be handling. For Management Information Systems handling large volumes, it is advisable to use heavy database applications like Microsoft SQL or Oracle. While for Management Information Systems that handle small volumes of data, light databases like MySQL are appropriate. This paper is an analysis of the database applications used in my school.

In my school, we perform tasks that do not require the use of an Information System using the Microsoft Access database. These tasks include records of student information, student courses, and even their performance in Random Assessment Tests and Continuous Assessment Tests. With this database; MS Access, we can query the database for specific student information. For instance, if a teacher wants to know the details of the students who have failed their CATs, the database is queried to provide this information (“A Beginners’ Guide”, N.D.). With the database, we also generate reports to heads of departments containing specific information. For instance, the head of the Computer Science department may want to know the number of students who are taking databases and their names. This can be generated in the form of a report by Microsoft Access.

In addition to Microsoft Access, the school uses JPAMS in preparing student grades, and their transcripts. This is actually what the school uses the database mainly for. The database is very instrumental in enabling the school to produce student transcripts in time. It also comes in handy for teachers who may want to check how certain students, or even classes, have been performing. The JAMS database is also used to capture student attendance so that it may be used in grading students, in case the school opts to implement that policy. The database is holistic in the sense that, it captures all the information that may be of interest to teachers as they do their evaluation of how their students have performed throughout the semester. For instance, a teacher may need to know issues related to the discipline of students in a certain semester or even in a certain year. The JAMS software is very instrumental in such situations because it can generate discipline-related reports. An example of these reports is the discipline frequency report, which gives discipline-related information with details like the time it occurred (Allen, 2009). Another similar report is the court report, which gives performance-related information mapped against discipline-related information.

As evidenced in the discussion above, my school mainly uses two databases. These are Microsoft Access and the JAMS. Microsoft Access is used to capture general everyday information like student details and performance in CATs, while JPAMS is used to capture students’ performances and other relevant information. The latter is any information that is deemed to affect student performance. It is therefore evident that the use of databases in the organization is rewarding since it makes tasks easy and provides timely information when the same is needed.

Works Cited

Allen, V. (2009). JPAMS Newsletter. Web.

Microsoft Access 2003. (N.D.). A Beginners’ Guide. Web.

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Introduction of DBMS (Database Management System)

A database is a collection of interrelated data that helps in the efficient retrieval, insertion, and deletion of data from the database and organizes the data in the form of tables, views, schemas, reports, etc. For Example , a university database organizes the data about students, faculty, admin staff, etc. which helps in the efficient retrieval, insertion, and deletion of data from it.

What is DBMS?

A Database Management System (DBMS) is a software system that is designed to manage and organize data in a structured manner. It allows users to create, modify, and query a database, as well as manage the security and access controls for that database. DBMS provides an environment to store and retrieve data in convenient and efficient manner.

Key Features of DBMS

• Data modeling: A DBMS provides tools for creating and modifying data models, which define the structure and relationships of the data in a database.
• Data storage and retrieval: A DBMS is responsible for storing and retrieving data from the database, and can provide various methods for searching and querying the data.
• Concurrency control: A DBMS provides mechanisms for controlling concurrent access to the database, to ensure that multiple users can access the data without conflicting with each other.
• Data integrity and security: A DBMS provides tools for enforcing data integrity and security constraints, such as constraints on the values of data and access controls that restrict who can access the data.
• Backup and recovery: A DBMS provides mechanisms for backing up and recovering the data in the event of a system failure.
• DBMS can be classified into two types: Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) and Non-Relational Database Management System (NoSQL or Non-SQL)
• RDBMS: Data is organized in the form of tables and each table has a set of rows and columns. The data are related to each other through primary and foreign keys.
• NoSQL: Data is organized in the form of key-value pairs, documents, graphs, or column-based. These are designed to handle large-scale, high-performance scenarios.

Types of DBMS

• Relational Database Management System (RDBMS):  Data is organized into tables (relations) with rows and columns, and the relationships between the data are managed through primary and foreign keys. SQL (Structured Query Language) is used to query and manipulate the data.
• NoSQL DBMS:  Designed for high-performance scenarios and large-scale data, NoSQL databases store data in various non-relational formats such as key-value pairs, documents, graphs, or columns.
• Object-Oriented DBMS (OODBMS):  Stores data as objects, similar to those used in object-oriented programming, allowing for complex data representations and relationships

Database Languages

• Data Definition Language
• Data Manipulation Language
• Data Control Language
• Transactional Control Language

Data Definition Language (DDL)

DDL is the short name for Data Definition Language, which deals with database schemas and descriptions, of how the data should reside in the database.

• CREATE: to create a database and its objects like (table, index, views, store procedure, function, and triggers)
• ALTER: alters the structure of the existing database
• DROP: delete objects from the database
• TRUNCATE: remove all records from a table, including all spaces allocated for the records are removed
• COMMENT: add comments to the data dictionary
• RENAME: rename an object

Data Manipulation Language (DML)

DML is the short name for Data Manipulation Language which deals with data manipulation and includes most common SQL statements such SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, etc., and it is used to store, modify, retrieve, delete and update data in a database. Data query language(DQL) is the subset of “Data Manipulation Language”. The most common command of DQL is SELECT statement. SELECT statement help on retrieving the data from the table without changing anything in the table.

• SELECT: retrieve data from a database
• INSERT: insert data into a table
• UPDATE: updates existing data within a table
• DELETE: Delete all records from a database table
• MERGE: UPSERT operation (insert or update)
• CALL: call a PL/SQL or Java subprogram
• EXPLAIN PLAN: interpretation of the data access path
• LOCK TABLE: concurrency Control

Data Control Language (DCL)

DCL is short for Data Control Language which acts as an access specifier to the database.(basically to grant and revoke permissions to users in the database

• GRANT: grant permissions to the user for running DML(SELECT, INSERT, DELETE,…) commands on the table
• REVOKE: revoke permissions to the user for running DML(SELECT, INSERT, DELETE,…) command on the specified table

Transactional Control Language (TCL)

TCL is short for Transactional Control Language which acts as an manager for all types of transactional data and all transactions. Some of the command of TCL are

• Roll Back: Used to cancel  or Undo changes made in the database 
• Commit: It is used to apply or save changes in the database
• Save Point: It is used to save the data on the temporary basis in the database

Data Query Language (DQL)

Data query language(DQL) is the subset of “Data Manipulation Language” . The most common command of DQL is 1the SELECT statement . SELECT statement helps us in retrieving the data from the table without changing anything or modifying the table. DQL is very important for retrieval of essential data from a database.

Paradigm Shift from File System to DBMS

  File System manages data using files on a hard disk. Users are allowed to create, delete, and update the files according to their requirements. Let us consider the example of file-based University Management System. Data of students is available to their respective Departments, Academics Section, Result Section, Accounts Section, Hostel Office, etc. Some of the data is common for all sections like Roll No, Name, Father Name, Address, and Phone number of students but some data is available to a particular section only like Hostel allotment number which is a part of the hostel office. Let us discuss the issues with this system:

• Redundancy of data: Data is said to be redundant if the same data is copied at many places. If a student wants to change their Phone number, he or she has to get it updated in various sections. Similarly, old records must be deleted from all sections representing that student.
• Inconsistency of Data: Data is said to be inconsistent if multiple copies of the same data do not match each other. If the Phone number is different in Accounts Section and Academics Section, it will be inconsistent. Inconsistency may be because of typing errors or not updating all copies of the same data.
• Difficult Data Access: A user should know the exact location of the file to access data, so the process is very cumbersome and tedious. If the user wants to search the student hostel allotment number of a student from 10000 unsorted students’ records, how difficult it can be.
• Unauthorized Access: File Systems may lead to unauthorized access to data. If a student gets access to a file having his marks, he can change it in an unauthorized way.
• No Concurrent Access: The access of the same data by multiple users at the same time is known as concurrency. The file system does not allow concurrency as data can be accessed by only one user at a time.
• No Backup and Recovery: The file system does not incorporate any backup and recovery of data if a file is lost or corrupted.

These are the main reasons which made a shift from file system to DBMS. Also See, Advantages of DBMS over File System

Advantages of DBMS

• Data organization: A DBMS allows for the organization and storage of data in a structured manner, making it easy to retrieve and query the data as needed.
• Data integrity: A DBMS provides mechanisms for enforcing data integrity constraints, such as constraints on the values of data and access controls that restrict who can access the data.
• Concurrent access: A DBMS provides mechanisms for controlling concurrent access to the database, to ensure that multiple users can access the data without conflicting with each other.
• Data security: A DBMS provides tools for managing the security of the data, such as controlling access to the data and encrypting sensitive data.
• Data sharing: A DBMS allows multiple users to access and share the same data, which can be useful in a collaborative work environment.

Disadvantages of DBMS

• Complexity: DBMS can be complex to set up and maintain, requiring specialized knowledge and skills.
• Performance overhead: The use of a DBMS can add overhead to the performance of an application, especially in cases where high levels of concurrency are required.
• Scalability: The use of a DBMS can limit the scalability of an application, since it requires the use of locking and other synchronization mechanisms to ensure data consistency.
• Cost: The cost of purchasing, maintaining and upgrading a DBMS can be high, especially for large or complex systems.
• Limited Use Cases: Not all use cases are suitable for a DBMS, some solutions don’t need high reliability, consistency or security and may be better served by other types of data storage.

Applications of DBMS

• Enterprise Information: Sales, accounting, human resources, Manufacturing, online retailers.
• Banking and Finance Sector: Banks maintaining the customer details, accounts, loans, banking transactions, credit card transactions. Finance: Storing the information about sales and holdings, purchasing of financial stocks and bonds.
• University: Maintaining the information about student course enrolled information, student grades, staff roles.
• Airlines: Reservations and schedules.
• Telecommunications: Prepaid, postpaid bills maintance.

A Database Management System (DBMS) is an essential tool for efficiently managing, organizing, and retrieving large volumes of data across various industries. Its ability to handle data securely, ensure integrity, support concurrent access, and provide backup and recovery options makes it indispensable for modern data-driven applications. While DBMSs come with complexities and costs, their benefits in terms of data management and security far outweigh the challenges, making them a crucial component in any data-centric environment

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How to Write a Short Essay

Last Updated: September 11, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 122,584 times.

Essay writing is a common assignment in high school or college courses, especially within the humanities. You’ll also be asked to write essays for college admissions and scholarships. In a short essay (250-500 words), you will need to provide an introduction with a thesis, a body, and a conclusion, as you would with a longer essay. Depending on the essay requirements, you may also need to do academic or online research to find sources to back up your claims.

Picking a Topic and Gathering Research

• If you have any questions about the topic, ask your instructor. If your essay doesn't respond to the prompt, you likely won't receive full credit.

• If you're writing an essay for an in-class test or for an application, tailor the essay to the given prompt and topic. Quickly brainstorm a few ideas; for example, think of positive things you can say about yourself for a college-entrance essay.
• For example, the topic “depression in American literature” is far too broad. Narrow down your topic to something like “Willie Loman’s depression in Death of a Salesman .”
• Or, you could write about a narrow topic like “the increase in the USA’s national debt in the 1950s” rather than a broad topic like “the American economy in the 20th century.”

• Depending on the field in which you’re writing the essay—e.g., hard sciences, sociology, humanities, etc.—your instructor will direct you towards appropriate databases. For example, if you’re writing a high-school or college-level essay for your English class, visit online literary databases like JSTOR, LION, and the MLA Bibliography.
• If you're writing the essay for a college or graduate-school application, it's unlikely that you'll need to include any secondary sources.
• If you're writing a timed or in-class essay, you may not be able to find research articles. But, still do draw information from texts and sources you've studied both in and out of class, and build from points made in any provided reading passages.

• If you’re writing about current events or journalism topics, read articles from well-known news sites like CNN or the BBC.
• Avoid citing unreliable websites like blogs or any sites that have a clear bias about the topic they’re reporting on.

Composing the Essay

• If you write the essay without outlining, the essay will be poorly organized.

• This thesis statement is far too weak: “ Death of a Salesman shows the difficulty of living in America after WWII.”
• Instead, hone your thesis to something like: “Arthur Miller uses Death of a Salesman to show that the American Dream is materialist and impractical.”

• So, avoid beginning the paragraph by writing something like, “Since the beginning of time, all people have been consumed with the desire for their father’s approval.”
• Instead, write something like, “In the play Death of a Salesman , Willie Loman’s sons compete for their father’s approval through various masculine displays."
• Then, you can say, "To examine this topic, I will perform a close reading of several key passages of the play and present analyses by noted Arthur Miller scholars."

• In a short essay, the conclusion should do nothing more than briefly restate your main claim and remind readers of the evidence you provided.

• So, take the example about Death of a Salesman . The first body paragraph could discuss the ways in which Willie’s sons try to impress him.
• The second body paragraph could dive into Willie’s hopelessness and despair, and the third paragraph could discuss how Miller uses his characters to show the flaws in their understanding of the American Dream.

• Always cite your sources so you avoid charges of plagiarism. Check with your instructor (or the essay prompt) and find out what citation style you should use.
• For example, if you’re summarizing the inflation of the American dollar during the 1930s, provide 2 or 3 years and inflation-rate percentages. Don’t provide a full-paragraph summary of the economic decline.
• If you're writing an in-class essay and don't have time to perform any research, you don't need to incorporate outside sources. But, it will impress your teacher if you quote from a reading passage or bring up pertinent knowledge you may have gained during the class.

• If no one agrees to read the essay, read over your own first draft and look for errors or spots where you could clarify your meaning. Reading the essay out loud often helps, as you’ll be able to hear sentences that aren’t quite coherent.
• This step does not apply to essays written during a timed or in-class exam, as you won't be able to ask peers to read your work.

• It’s always a mistake to submit an unrevised first draft, whether for a grade, for admissions, or for a scholarship essay.
• However, if you're writing an essay for a timed exam, it's okay if you don't have enough time to combine multiple drafts before the time runs out.

Condensing Your Essay

• So, if you’re writing about Death of a Salesman , an article about symbolism in Arthur Miller’s plays would be useful. But, an article about the average cost of Midwestern hotels in the 1940s would be irrelevant.
• If you’re writing a scholarship essay, double-check the instructions to clarify what types of sources you’re allowed to use.

• A common cliche you might find in an essay is a statement like, "I'm the hardest working student at my school."
• For example, this sentence is too verbose: “I have been a relentlessly stellar student throughout my entire high school career since I am a seriously dedicated reader and thoroughly apply myself to every assignment I receive in class.”
• Shortened, it could read: “I was a stellar student throughout my high school career since I was a dedicated reader and applied myself to every assignment I received.”

• Avoid writing something like, “Willie Loman can be seen as having achieved little through his life because he is not respected by his sons and is not valued by his co-workers.”
• Instead, write, “Arthur Miller shows readers that Willie’s life accomplishments have amounted to little. Willie’s sons do not look up to him, and his co-workers treat him without respect.”

• For example, if you’re trying to prove that WWII pulled the USA out of the Great Depression, focus strictly on an economic argument.
• Avoid bringing in other, less convincing topics. For example, don’t dedicate a paragraph to discussing how much it cost the USA to build fighter jets in 1944.

Short Essay Template and Example

Expert Q&A

• When composing the text of your essay, resist the temptation to pull words from a thesaurus in an attempt to sound academic or intelligent. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If your high school or college has an online or in-person writing center, schedule an appointment. Taking advantage of this type of service can improve your essay and help you recognize structural or grammatical problems you would not have noticed otherwise. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/research_papers/choosing_a_topic.html
• ↑ https://monroecollege.libguides.com/c.php?g=589208&p=4072926
• ↑ https://www.library.illinois.edu/hpnl/tutorials/secondary-sources/
• ↑ https://www.utep.edu/extendeduniversity/utepconnect/blog/march-2017/4-ways-to-differentiate-a-good-source-from-a-bad-source.html
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/essay-outline/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/
• ↑ https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/how-to-write-an-essay/essay-introduction
• ↑ https://lsa.umich.edu/sweetland/undergraduates/writing-guides/how-do-i-write-an-intro--conclusion----body-paragraph.html
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/evidence/
• ↑ https://mlpp.pressbooks.pub/writingsuccess/chapter/8-3-drafting/
• ↑ https://www.trentu.ca/academicskills/how-guides/how-write-university/how-approach-any-assignment/writing-english-essay/using-secondary
• ↑ https://www.antioch.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Academic-Tone-for-Formal-Writing.pdf
• ↑ https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/ccs_activevoice/
• ↑ https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/academicwriting

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13 Free Essay Sample Databases to Get Inspired

Sometimes, you may lack inspiration or examples of how to fulfill the task of writing. In this case, you can use free essay sample databases. These platforms give access to thousands of excellent papers that you can learn from. There are numerous essays of different types, covering a wide variety of topics. You will find something related to your assignment!

We reviewed twelve popular essay example databases to find out how they can be helpful for you. Each of them offers an outstanding selection of writing pieces. There are papers discussing medical, political, social, cultural, personal, scientific, and many other issues. Let’s take a tour through the rank of the best platforms!

• 🥇 Top-13 Websites to Get Free Essay Examples

🤓 Best Essay Writing Service: Editor’s Choice

🥇 #1 free essay sample database, 💸 best business essay examples website, 🩺 best nursing essay examples, 👍 best user-friendly service, 📝 how to use essay examples in your writing, 🥇 top-13 websites to get free college essay examples.

There are plenty of websites offering access to free paper samples online. However, many of them suggest writing pieces that don’t follow standard rules and contain numerous errors. We selected a list of top-notch university and high school essay sample databases which contain papers reviewed by experts so that you see only ones of excellent quality. Study the examples from the databases below to get inspired or learn new writing tricks. We developed a table that will help you compare all the platforms quickly.

To evaluate the effectiveness of each service, we analyzed their interface, key features, the number, and the variety of papers. Each of the platforms can be beneficial for you, so read our overview and find what best fits you!

If you can’t find the topic you need on the other platforms, try IvyPanda . This essay sample database contains the widest variety of subjects and is probably the most diverse one. You can choose from 26 topics, with each including up to 20 subcategories. There’s a slight chance you won’t find what you are looking for or anything related that can be helpful as well.

You can look for the essays by entering the keywords or searching by topics. Select whichever method is more convenient for you. In any case, the whole process won’t take too long. Some categories also present tips on writing about a particular subject, so don’t miss this.

Be mindful that when searching by keywords, the algorithm analyzes the whole writing piece so that the words you enter may appear not in the title or main topic but play a secondary role.

On a typical essay sample preview, you will see the title, subject, word & page count, and the first few sentences. This will give you an idea of what the paper looks like. As you open the essay, you will see its rating, table of contents (if there’s any), and the work itself. You can see the reference list at the bottom of the page, which can also be named “Works Cited.” This point depends on the formatting style to help you detect which one the author used. You can also learn the reading time of the work.

If you need to cite a particular essay, click on the “Cite This” button on the top of the page or scroll down to the “Cite This Paper section.”You will have five citation styles in this block: APA-6, MLA-8, Chicago (N-B), Chicago (A-D), and Harvard. Choose the one according to your task.

After each essay sample, the platform suggests related papers that you can study as well. This is particularly handy when you’re researching a specific topic and need to find as many sources as possible. And don’t forget to take a look at the reference list and read through the articles or book summaries mentioned.

Do you want to find essay examples for free on the topic you need in seconds? Well, that’s possible with the StudyCorgi . This service provides a great user experience, as it is super easy to navigate. You can search essays by topic or by keywords. There are over 3,000 writing compositions on the platforms, so you will definitely find what you need.

Study Corgi offers essays related to an extensive list of subjects and fields of study. Some of the most popular topics include:

• Art & Design
• Diet & Nutrition
• Environment
• Business & Economics

There are even interview essay examples for free. All the essays which you can find on this website are written by English-speaking students from all around the world. They have various study backgrounds; however, their works share one thing in common. The expert team highly evaluated the writings that they shared through StudyCorgi.

The StudyCorgi website has a friendly interface, so you will have a great time using it. Each essay is displayed on a separate web page, featuring the essay’s topic, word count, and upload date. There’re two options of what you can do with the essay: print it or cite.

Some writings contain subheadings, so you can easily find the section you want. There are papers of various lengths, starting from around 300 words to 5000 words. You can discover different types of essays on this platform. StudyCorgi provides its readers with cause and effect essay examples, argumentative paper samples, persuasive, descriptive, and many more kinds of writings.

StudyCorgi is a free service, and you get many perks by using it. The platform contains zero ads or annoying pop-ups, so nothing will disturb you in the process of searching for your perfect essay sample. The papers’ quality is beyond any comments, so you can stop doubting whether they are worthy samples or not. What’s more, you won’t get bored of using this platform thanks to its playful interface and an outstanding selection of essay topics. We are sure: many students spend hours exploring its most profound depths.

Business Essay

The Business Essay platform is explicitly designed for students in this field. It contains hundreds of articles on such topics as brand management, business ethics, corporate culture, decision making, e-commerce, entrepreneurship, global scale management, and many more. If you are looking for MBA essay samples, you will find this service helpful as well. It might be the largest essay sample database of essays on business major.

Like the other platforms on our list, Business Essay accepts only high-quality papers that scored excellent marks. Students from all over the world submit their essays, and the website’s team checks them, so there is no chance you will come across a paper with numerous errors and poor content. Each paper is also plagiarism-free, so don’t hesitate to reference the essays you liked.

You can find the proper essay sample by entering the keywords or searching by topics. Open the “Essay Subjects” page and find the one your assignment relates to. If you scroll down, there will be the latest essay samples submitted to the platform. When you don’t have a specific topic to write on, this section might be beneficial.

Use the papers as essay outline samples or get inspiration from the content. See how others explore and present the issue under study. It will be beneficial to analyze your colleagues’ writing approaches and techniques in their papers to boost your own skills. You learn faster when you see how things work in practice rather than in theory. That’s why it may be more effective to read through some excellent essay samples than numerous articles on how to write a paper.

Business is a diverse field of study, and it has dozens of exciting subjects to dwell on. You can write essays of different types, including argumentative, descriptive, cause & effect, compare & contrast, etc. Here are five trending topics to discuss in 2024:

• The Impact of the Pandemic on Small Businesses
• Benefits of Working Remotely
• Is User Review Crucial?
• How to Succeed in the Volatile Work Environment?
• New Technologies in Retail Supply Chains
• Is Ultimate Equity at Work Achievable?

NursingBird

If you’re a medical student, you will benefit from trying the  NursingBird  service. The spectrum of topics that you can find here ranges from surgery to alternative medicine. You can learn about health IT, epidemiology, geriatrics, rehabilitation, oncology, and many more engaging subjects. This platform is a rare find for medical school students.   

Here, you will come across short essay examples as well as longer ones. The papers vary in their structure, formatting styles, and writing approaches. You can learn new techniques or see how to outline your paper. Experts in the medical field assess and select each of the submitted essays manually. They evaluate the papers that students from different countries submit to the platform and choose the ones with zero errors and excellent content. The essays also contain no plagiarism, so that you can refer to them in your paper with no doubt.

The easiest way to find an essay sample that you need is to type the keywords in the search bar on the main page. The results will appear in seconds. Another way of finding papers on NursingBird is to search them by topic. Open the page “Essay Subjects” and select the one your assignment relates to. There’s no single right way to do that, but both methods can be effective.

What’s utterly amazing about NursingBird is that this online essay database is free and still contains no ads. You can enjoy this superb platform with nothing disturbing you in the process. The website’s administrators understand your pain of dealing with endless popping up banners when you try to find what you need!

AssignZen  is a platform where anyone can find an essay sample they need. This website is a quick and effortless way to find inspiration for completing your writing assignment. It has a fresh and user-friendly interface that makes your experience more pleasant. 

Here, you will find writings of any educational level and on a wide variety of topics. AssignZen provides university, college, and high school essays. You can explore the subjects like design, art, tourism, politics, religion, transportation, technology, and others. Each category contains dozens of diverse papers. You may encounter multiple genres, including argumentative, free compare and contrast essay examples, reaction, and other papers. All of them are excellent representatives of their kinds. AssignZen is a great platform to discover essays on daily life issues. Also, it’s one of not so many services where you can find papers on warfare and sports.

Each essay uploaded to the AssignZen platform goes through a detailed quality check. A team of academic experts analyzes its grammatical and content aspects. Also, they check if the writing piece is plagiarism-free and meets the formatting style standards. Thanks to this, you can be sure that the essay you find here will be of outstanding quality.

Enter your key subject of the assignment in the search bar on the main page to find the paper you need. Also, you can scroll down to topics to choose from. Use whichever method seems more straightforward and more effective for you. If your assignment is rather general, searching by categories might be more beneficial because you can come across more diverse papers. However, when writing about something specific, it will be more productive to search by keywords.

This platform focuses mainly on humanitarian topics, so you can find many excellent essay samples on philosophy, sociology, social media, history, and law. Still, the papers on technology and other related topics here are also worth your attention. Check them out and get inspiration for your assignment!

If you’re looking for a simple online service to seek inspiration for your next assignment, try  123HelpMe . This platform makes the process of finding the proper essay easy and stress-free. Here, you can find works of any type and level. 123HelpMe is a free essay database college and university papers, descriptive, argumentative, reflective, creative, and other kinds of essays. Anyone can come across what they need.

The interface of the platform is playful and exciting to explore. There are no ads and no annoying pop-ups so that the website looks clean, and you don’t get disrupted when doing your work. Also, the topic navigation menu is highly convenient to use. All subjects are divided into six categories: Essay Type, Science, Business, Social Issues, Humanities, and Literature. Press “+” next to each subject to see some essays on this topic.

Another way to find what you need among 123HelpMe essays is to enter the keywords. Detect the words that describe your topic best and type them in the search bar. For instance, to find an essay about the effects of WWII, you can use write: “WWII effects” or “WWII consequences.”Keep in mind that when searching by keywords, the algorithm analyzes the title and the whole text. That’s why sometimes, the essay may not be about precisely what you need because the words you used play a secondary role in its content.

PapersGeeks

PapersGeeks is a free online essay database that offers a variety of handful resources to students worldwide. The website’s interface is clear, simple, and easy to navigate, making it easy to find the information you need.

One of the most valuable features of PapersGeeks is its extensive range of topics. The website covers everything from literature and history to medicine, science, and engineering. Whether you’re looking for information on a specific topic or want to browse through some interesting articles, PapersGeeks has you covered.

Each topic contains plenty of sample essays, which can be incredibly helpful for those struggling to get started with their own writing. All samples are submitted by students and cover a range of different paper types and formats, so there’s something for everyone. You can print any essay you like, or, if you find it useful and want to use some ideas in your paper, just head to the end of essay example, pick up the referencing style and click to copy the citation.

PapersGeeks also offers free online tools to help students improve their writing skills. These include a paraphrasing tool, essay reducer, and research title enhancer. You can use them to rephrase any text, summarize your essay or article, and pick the right title for your future paper. These tools are invaluable for anyone who wants to ensure their work is of the highest quality.

PapersGeeks is suitable for anyone interested in improving their writing skills or learning more about a particular topic. The website is beneficial for students who are looking for guidance and support with their academic work. However, the resources available on PapersGeeks can also come in handy for academics who need to write reports, proposals, or other documents.

Another easy-to-use sample resource on our list is the Bartleby essay database. This platform will help you conquer writer’s block and blank paper anxiety. It’s a website with hundreds of excellent papers in free access. The topics here range from anatomy to philosophy, and Bartleby provides a rich collection of literature essays. For instance, you may come across a free will vs determinism essay. You can find outstanding poetry and non-fiction works reviews. And there’s a lot to discover on business too! If you need ultimate inspiration, this is a proper place for getting it.

The interface of the platform is straightforward, and you can explore the database in several ways. Firstly, you can look through the list of popular works. It includes essays of different academic levels relating to various fields of study.

Secondly, you can go through the most in-demand topics on the website. This list differs from the familiar ones where you have general names of disciplines. It focuses on famous events, people, phenomena, etc., for instance, “1984,” “Abraham Lincoln,” “WWII,” “Hamlet,” “Hipaa,” “Immigration,” and so on.

The last section on the website offers to explore literary analysis. Click on the button under each of the abovementioned blocks to see more essay samples or topics. The lists may not be the most convenient option in this case; however, the variety of subjects and papers will impress anyone.

StudentShare

StudentShare  is a free online service that you can also use to find excellent college essay samples. Here, your colleagues upload their finest works to help others improve their writings or get inspiration. A professional team assesses each paper before it goes live. Experts check if the essay meets formatting, content, and grammar standards and whether it contains plagiarism. Thus, the works you can see online are all A-grade ones.  

On this website, you can adjust the already familiar search by keywords. Enter the words that best describe your topic and click on one of the options under “Search in.” The algorithm can analyze the title, the document, or both, to find what you need.  

If you’re unsure of what’s the best way to use the platform, watch a short tutorial on it. Also, you can search papers by their type. There are various kinds of essays and other task samples like math problems, thesis proposals, statistics projects, and more. Here’s a list of some genres you may encounter on this database:

• Reflection essay samples,
• Comparison and contrast essay samples,
• Rhetorical analysis essay samples,
• Descriptive essay samples,
• Analytical essay samples,
• Cause and effect essay samples,
• Argumentative essay examples,
• Narrative essay examples,
• Compare and contrast essay examples,
• Personal essay examples,
• Persuasive essay examples,
• Definition essay examples,
• Expository essay examples,
• Informative essay examples,
• Descriptive essay examples.

What’s more, StudentShare provides other free and paid services for students, such as GPA calculation, essay guiding, topic generation, and more. This platform can be the ultimate academic assistant for you.

Although the interface is a bit outdated and sometimes confusing, this database is still convenient for daily use, and you can find a proper paper relatively quickly.

UKEssays is a huge database with thousands of papers on topics from chemistry to fashion. Here, you can discover a wide variety of different academic levels, formatting styles, and types. It’s a diverse collection of essays on everyday topics, as well as more professionally specified ones. UKEssays also suggests papers on some unusual subjects, such as beauty therapy, motivation, video games, young people, theology, and more.

On this website, you can try browsing essay samples by the topic they relate to first. This approach can be handy if you want to discover more related papers to the subject you’re writing about. Another method of searching for the proper essay is scrolling down and typing the keywords in the search bar. Try to shorten them to two or three words maximum, so the results will be the most relevant. The website suggests how your inquiry may look like, and it is useful for you to follow it.

The results of your search are displayed on a separate web page. You will see a list of essay samples, each tab including a title and a brief piece of introduction, so you can get to know what the text is about. As you click on the paper, you see an entire work, word count, and works cited.

Among the drawbacks of this platform is an overwhelming number of ad banners, making it a bit challenging to concentrate on the essay examples and your research. Also, there are too many buttons all over the page. However, the high quality of papers and the other platform’s features makes it a handy tool to use every time you need a powerful writing sample.

SpeedyPaper

Looking for a huge essay sample database?  SpeedyPaper  has thousands of excellent texts to help you. This platform offers a wide variety of works on popular and less mundane topics. If you’re studying some unusual subjects like ethnography or forensic science, this is the right place to get inspiration!

The platform provides different approaches to exploring the database. First, you can see a search bar where you can enter two types of information regarding your needs:

• essay sample, approximate word count,
• topic description or related keywords.

Both options will lead you to relevant results. Keep in mind that you should use to many words to describe the paper you’re looking for. It’s better to make it within ten-fifteen words at the most.

Another way to explore the depth of this database is to explore the subjects. There is a list of topics under the search bar, which you can sort by the first letter, select popular ones, or view all. You can see how many essays available on the particular issue next to each category.

The essay samples cost nothing to read, so you can check out as many as you need to discover the proper ones. Analyzing how the paper’s content and structure can be beneficial to get the gist of the excellent outlining and compelling writing techniques. You can come across excellent essay conclusion examples, for instance. That’s why, although the SpeedyPapers website has some pop-ups, and the interface might be a bit outdated, the platform is still worth your time.

FreeEssay.com

FreeEssay.com  claims to have around 500,000 essays to offer you for daily inspiration. The platform collects works that students from all around the world share with their colleagues. Here, you can discover new points of view on the subjects you are studying or writing about. 

Let’s see how this service can benefit you.

The website provides quick and convenient ways to find the proper essay sample. You can search essays by keywords, entering the phrases that describe your topic in the shortest form. The second method involves exploring the list of subjects and popular papers. There are works to anyone’s taste and of any type: 5-paragraph essay samples, literary analysis, sociology, business, law, and other compositions.

Before uploading to the platform, a team of experienced academic specialists check the works submitted by the students. They choose only the A-grade papers which contain zero errors and are plagiarism-free. The service cares about your source of inspiration being trustworthy and high-quality.

On the FreeEssay database, you can find papers on major literary and cinematography pieces. You can also explore popular scientific or political issues. And the best part about it is that you shouldn’t pay anything. Like a not user-friendly interface, the minor inconveniences don’t really affect this platform is one of the best essay example collections on the web.

Last but not least, the Kibin essay platform is the twelfth best college essay sample database on our list. It’s a great place to check out if you’re stuck with the writing assignment. Here, you will find inspiration and hundreds of top-notch papers to learn from.

One of the essential features of this platform is easy navigation through the website. You can find what you need within minutes and without being disturbed by popping up ads or anything else. The interface is clean and straightforward.

There are two approaches that you can adopt when looking for a proper essay. The first is to type the keywords for your assignment in the search bar and search among the most relevant results. However, you may also encounter not 100% related to your subject texts. That can happen because the search engine detects the keywords you entered in the whole text, not paying attention to which role they play in the context. So, if you can’t find what you need using this method, you can try the second one.

Another approach to looking for samples on Kibin is to browse the list below the search bar. The papers are organized so that you can find the one you need by its type or category. For instance, you can look through the free argumentative essays examples to understand how to outline them.

In the previous section, we reviewed all twelve platforms’ primary features on our list of costless essay sample databases. Now, it’s time to move further in this adventure and take a closer look at the best of these services. Why do we think they’re the most effective ones? We evaluated their capabilities and user experience and compared them with the other websites. Also, we checked how easy it is to find what you need on each platform, and the ones below proved to be the fastest.

Let’s see which databases are on our top-of-the-line list!

Can you guess which platform has the most extensive range of topics and the largest amount of essay samples? We don’t want to challenge your curiosity, so here is the answer. The ultimate winner of this rank is IvyPanda !

Now, let’s discuss why.

Firstly, the database size is impressive. Just imagine that here you can discover more than 100,000 essays in free access! That means that the chances to find what you’re looking for are especially high. You can forget about hours of scrolling through web pages in search of a helpful article on your topic. We are pretty sure that you can find work on the same or related subject here.

Secondly, the user-oriented interface makes the experience of using this service exceptionally pleasant. There are no ads that can disturb you and no annoying pop-ups that cover half screen– only a clean workspace and easy flow from the very beginning. You need to take just two effortless steps to find an appropriate essay sample:

• Search the essay by topic, word or page count, type, or keywords.
• Check several works to make the best of your research.

A great benefit of this platform is that your searching options are not limited to one or two. There are only a few platforms where you can find essays by their type, and hardly any services offer you to search by the number of words or pages.

When can this be helpful?

If you want to see how other students organized their lengthy papers, you may not pay much attention to its subject. In this case, it will be more time-saving to search by the particular word count. For instance, you can learn how many paragraphs to write for an introduction if your paper is over 5,000 words.

Almost all platforms of this type contain essays on business-related  topics; however, only one specializes exclusively on this subject. If you were reading our article carefully, you might already know the answer. It’s the  Business Essay  database.

This website provides costless access to hundreds of papers on various topics. Here is a list of some of them:

• Brand Management
• Business Communication
• Company Analysis
• Company Missions
• Corporate Governance
• Decision Making
• Employees Management
• Financial Marketing
• Global Scale Management
• Leadership Styles
• Risk Management
• Strategic Management

Here, you can business school essay examples for any study level and of any type. There are argumentative, cause & effect, descriptive, persuasive, and many other papers. You can learn their specific features by analyzing the examples. It’s much more productive than studying theory only.

The Business Essay platform is easy to navigate and, what’s more, contains zero ads, which makes it super convenient to use. The interface, in this case, is crucial, and it’s performing its duty excellently – you can find what you need in seconds and save your time for more exciting activities.

This platform exists thanks to the hundreds of students worldwide and a team of academic professionals. The first supply their high-quality essays, while the second check them and select the best ones. You can donate your writing piece as well. Complete a short form on the website and upload the file. You will get the check report on your email. Thus, you will help thousands of students who seek inspiration on this platform daily.

The process of searching for the proper essay is fast and almost effortless. Start by typing your subject or keywords to the search bar topic, press “Enter,” and discover dozens of unique works. Another approach is exploring the list categories. Choose a subject to which your assignment relates, for instance, “Risk Management,” and see what essays about this there are.

Business Essay is a particularly useful online service for students who major in management, economics, logistics, entrepreneurship, and everything connected with this field. Use the examples from here to improve your outlining and creative skills. You can also reference papers from this platform, as they are plagiarism-free and contain top-notch content. Be sure to check related samples when reading an essay. We hope you will find more than you expected!

Healthcare and medical issues require high scrupulousness and a solemn attitude when you’re discussing them. While humanitarian students are more likely to deal with essays daily, medical students receive this kind of task less frequently. People who can write well tend to be more straightforward, can justify their decisions, and understand the relations between events better. Isn’t it crucial for writing an excellent nursing school admission essay?

If you want to improve these skills or simply get some clues on how to fulfill your writing assignment, try the  NursingBird  platform.

This website contains hundreds of excellent nursing essay samples. Whichever specialty you have, be sure that you can find exactly what you need here. Discover new views on the topics you’re already familiar with or explore subjects unknown to you. Here, students worldwide share their best works, helping each other boost their writing and creative skills.

The process of using this service is as straightforward as it is. There are two routes you may take to find healthcare essay examples. The first one is to enter the keywords of your assignment in the search bar on the main page’s top. Type in the words that represent the essence of your task. For instance, if your topic sounds like “Cytarabine and Its Neurological Side Effects,” you can select only two words from this long name to find a sample: Cytarabine effects.

Another way to get a proper medical school essay examples is to look through the list of popular healthcare topics. There are thirty general categories, each of them containing dozens of papers. Tap on any your task relates to and look for what you need. This method is particularly helpful if you want to discover a work on a specific issue and other connected essays.

Too bored scrolling monotonous essay databases? We know two platforms that will change your experience of using this type of service. These are  StudyCorgi  and  AssignZen ! They will make the process of working on your paper funnier and less tiring.

The first thing to mention about these websites is their well-thought interfaces. The information is located, so it’s easy to find what you need quickly. Also, the design of both platforms is playful and bright so that you enjoy the process of working with them. On the top of the websites’ main pages, you can see a search bar to type in the keywords and find a proper essay. Then, you can scroll down, read about these platforms and discover the recently uploaded paper. If you go further, you will see a list of popular topics.

As you open any category or search essays by subject, you will see dozens of works displayed on separate tab each. The tab’s information includes the paper’s title, word count, uploading date, and a short piece of text so you can get a clue what the essay is about. The paper page includes the work itself and an essay subjects menu, so you can promptly jump to another topic if needed.

Before being posted on the platform, each essay on both platforms should pass a quality check by a team of academic experts. They analyze its grammar, content, formatting, and scan for plagiarism. The monitors will accept not every work submitted by other students, so you needn’t worry about the quality of the essays you encounter on StudyCorgi and AssignZen. All of them can benefit you in different ways!

Do you know what blank paper anxiety is? If you’re familiar with this issue, essay sample databases will be helpful for you. Sometimes, when you see the assignment, you have no idea of how to fulfill it. Then, you’re just staring at the blank page and wait for inspiration to come. If this happens to you even once in a semester, we have a solution. Discover free writing examples online to save your time and effort.

College Essay Samples as a Source of Inspiration and Knowledge

It’s a helpful thing to bear in mind: you can find an excellent paper written on the topic you’re assigned in 95% of cases. So, if you don’t manage to find good examples, maybe, you’re searching in the wrong place? The platforms like Ivy Panda, Study Corgi, or the others from the list above are the ones that will surely help you.

Why is it handy to see the writing examples? You can learn a lot from them, from structure to tone of voice and vocabulary use. They will also help you understand how different citation styles work in actual cases. For instance, how you should cite a YouTube video according to the APA style.

What’s more, checking college essay samples can impact your creativity . You may notice exciting writing techniques and tricks and learn them for further use. Although the essay outline standards are relatively low-key, there’s enough space for experiments, and students often play around with sectioning their papers. The more samples you look through, the more approaches you get to know, which increases your creative skills.

One of the main concerns regarding essay databases is the quality of the writings . However, you needn’t worry about this when speaking of the platforms e reviewed. All of them employ teams of academic experts who check the works being uploaded on the websites. You will come across the best essays only, which scored at least B+.

Essay Outline: Samples to Learn the Paper Structure

There are lots of things to learn from sample essays. One of the most obvious and most accessible to comprehend is the paper structure. It’s the first thing that catches your eye when scrolling through the paper.

Some essays have separate sections with titles, while others may not. Both approaches are applicable; however, you should consult your tutor about which one is preferable in your type of task.

When each section has a title, the paper is easier to read because you don’t have to deal with a massive text block at once. Still, for the shorter writings, you may not need to do this.

The primary paper’s outline includes three parts. Some of them may be trickier than others, so be sure to find good essay introduction samples. By studying these, you will learn how to write compelling thesis statements and readdress them in your writing piece’s final section. Another thing to look at is the essay hook examples. These are sentences that grab readers’ attention and engage them in the topic under study. Here is an excellent sample of how you can place a hook in the introduction:

The highlighted piece plays a crucial role in this paragraph because it addresses the readers and makes them think of these questions’ answers. This rhetorical figure is a type of hook that is relatively popular and highly effective.

Essay Samples: Learn the Formatting Rules

Apart from essay outlining, there is another aspect that is easy to fail if you lack experience. Now, let’s talk about formatting styles.

Basically, there are four most common ones: APA, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago. All of them got their names from famous universities or associations. Formatting styles differ mainly in the citation approaches and the treatment of reference lists.

Let’s review some of their key features:

• The APA style helps unify the headings, abbreviations, tone, statistics presentation, construction of figures, and citing references. It’s common for papers on social science, business, and nursing.
• MLA is mainly used by researchers in the field of literature. It helps improve the lengthy essay’s readability and prevents plagiarism by locating the information quickly.
• The Chicago style is popular among art, history, and humanities scientists. Additionally to the bibliography rules, it contains proofreading and editing mechanics.
• Researchers from such fields as sociology, technology, and natural sciences often use the Harvard formatting style . One of its main features is using the author-date method for in-text citations.

The theory is hard to comprehend without practice, so don’t hesitate to check the essay sample databases and find the writing pieces in the style you need!

Today, you’ve learned about some of the most helpful platforms, with hundreds of college essay examples available for free. You don’t need to choose just one of them because they are all worth your attention! Try each of the websites, and you will undoubtedly find something handy. These essay databases will help you get ultimate inspiration and improve your writing skills.

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