Why do we need databases instead of files?

Question

Databases support good data access because: Large volumes of data can be stored in one place. Multiple users can read and modify the data at the same time. Databases are searchable and sortable, so the data you need can be found quick and easily.

Why are databases used instead of files?

A database is generally used for storing related, structured data, with well defined data formats, in an efficient manner for insert, update and/or retrieval (depending on application). On the other hand, a file system is a more unstructured data store for storing arbitrary, probably unrelated data.

Which is better database or files?

There is more data consistency because of the process of normalization. It is less complex as compared to DBMS. It has more complexity in handling as compared to the file system. File systems provide less security in comparison to DBMS.