What is a flat file in a database?

Question

A flat file is a collection of data stored in a two-dimensional database in which similar yet discrete strings of information are stored as records in a table. The columns of the table represent one dimension of the database, while each row is a separate record.

What is a flat file used for?

Flat files can be used to import or export data from applications that have no other means of interaction. For example, you might want to share information between JD Edwards EnterpriseOne and another system.

What is flat file example?

One of the most common flat file examples is a comma-separated values (CSV) file. In a CSV file, table data is represented by lines of ASCII text. The value of each table cell in the example below is separated by a comma and each row is represented by a new line in Notepad.

What is the difference between a database and a flat file?

Database system provide data consistency whereas flat file can not provide data consistency. Database is more secure over flat files. Database support DML and DDL whereas flat files can not support these. Less data redundancy in database whereas more data redundancy in flat files.

What is a flat file and relational database?

A relational database is one that contains multiple tables of data that relate to each other through special key fields. Relational databases are far more flexible (though harder to design and maintain) than what are known as flat file databases, which contain a single table of data.

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