A computer database is a structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system. A database relies upon software to organize the storage of data. In other words, the software models the database structure in what are known as database models (or data models). The model in most common use today is the relational model. Other models such as the hierarchical model and the network model use a more explicit representation of relationships

The program that manages the database is referred to as the database management system or DBMS. Among the most popular systems include Microsoft Access, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, and File Maker. These databases are far more complex than a text file or a spreadsheet, as they have the ability to relate the records across different tables.

Very often, an individual's name will be encoded, and then followed by the information. The name and the information are normally separated by a space, comma, or a hyphen. The items are commonly arranged by rows. Each row is referred to as a record.

Another form of database is the spreadsheet similar to the format used in Microsoft Excel, for example. They organize data through a variety of means, either by arranging records by surname, first name or by alphabetic order, reverse-alphabetical, time of modification and so on. Because the items are not only arranged horizontally but also vertically, the records is easier to comprehend.

Another benefit of using a database is data manipulation. Technology has advanced tremendously since its early uses in the 1960s and 1970s. The most common kind of data manipulation is a sorted list of the contents of some particular table column, with pointers to the row associated with the value. Data manipulation allows a set of table rows matching some criterion to be located quickly.

Among the most basic examples of a database is the text file. One notable feature of text files is that it does not support formatting of any kind. Without the excessively complex systems, hierarchies, formatting and methods that the average computer user knows nothing about, the text file becomes a fairly straightforward way of organizing your files, streamlining data enough that it can be read by any kind of system. This information is useful in many tasks, such as sending email.