IGCSE Algorithms and Pseudocode Foundations for G8 Practice Exam

A database is a system designed to store structured data and support querying. It keeps information in organized formats, typically in tables with defined schemas, so relationships between data can be represented and maintained. With a database, you can use query languages like SQL to retrieve, filter, sort, and join data across different tables, making it easy to answer questions about the data or generate reports. It also offers features such as indexing for fast searches and transactions that ensure data integrity, which go beyond what simple storage structures provide.

In contrast, a collection of files stores data but doesn’t come with built-in tools for querying across the data efficiently. A linked list arranges elements linearly, mainly for sequential access, not for powerful queries or large-scale data management. A dictionary maps keys to values, offering fast lookups but usually in-memory and not designed for complex, multi-record queries or long-term persistent storage.