Definition
A distributed database (DDB) is an integrated collection of databases that is physically distributed across sites in a computer network. A distributed database management system (DDBMS) is the software system that manages a distributed database such that the distribution aspects are transparent to the users. To form a distributed database system (DDBS), the files must be structured, logically interrelated, and physically distributed across multiple sites. In addition, there must be a common interface to access the distributed data.
Historical Background
There are many reasons that motivated DDBS. First, distributed databases reflect organizational structure. In many organizations, the data are naturally distributed across departments/branches where each department/branch maintains its own local data. Moreover, it is not always possible to...
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Tan, KL. (2009). Distributed Database Systems. In: LIU, L., ÖZSU, M.T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Database Systems. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-39940-9_701
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