Data field
A data field is the smallest unit of a data record . According to Mertens, it is the smallest data unit that can be evaluated, e.g. B. an article number.
Different levels of consideration: In programming , i. H. In computer programs or in database definitions , data fields (often just called "field") are declared on the type level . Each data field is characterized by attributes such as its name, length or data type . As a result, a memory area is reserved in the program to hold specific data (fields) to be processed, as part of a " data structure ".
In contrast, data fields of a specific database are the individual fields in each individual data record , i.e. in table-oriented databases the intersection of a certain column with a certain row. Examples: The name "John Doe" in a row of the "People" table; the invoice amount of a specific invoice.
Data fields are named differently depending on the form of storage or also depending on the programming language . In relational databases, each data field corresponds to an attribute . The totality of the attributes, the data record, corresponds to the tuple .
With a different meaning and in some programming languages, the term 'data field' is sometimes used to mean field ( field, array ) .
Individual evidence
- ↑ P. Mertens et al.: Fundamentals of business informatics. 5th edition. Springer Verlag, Berlin 1998, p. 59.
- ↑ data field. on Wissen.de
- ↑ Programming in Fortran. Bayreuth University. (srv.rz.uni-bayreuth.de)