Kenneth C. Laudon,Jane P. Laudon Management Information System 12th Edition pdf

data definition 

capability to specify the structure of the content

of the database. It would be used to create database tables and to define the

characteristics of the fields in each table. This information about the database

would be documented in a data dictionary. A 

data dictionary

is an automated or

manual file that stores definitions of data elements and their characteristics. 

Microsoft Access has a rudimentary data dictionary capability that displays

information about the name, description, size, type, format, and other proper-

ties of each field in a table (see Figure 6-6). Data dictionaries for large corporate

databases may capture additional information, such as usage, ownership (who

in the organization is responsible for maintaining the data), authorization;

security, and the individuals, business functions, programs, and reports that

use each data element.

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DBMS includes tools for accessing and manipulating information in databases.

Most DBMS have a specialized language called a