| Term | Definition |
| Ascending sort | sort that arranges records from A to Z or smallest to largest |
| Database | a collection of stord info, any or all of which is available for retrieval by electronic means; a collection of files containing specific info available to individual departments |
| Database management system | any system for managing data |
| Database structure | the arrangement of data to tables and fields |
| Data Type | specification that tells the database what kind of info can be stored in a field |
| Descending | sort that arranges records from Z to A or largest to smallest |
| Field | category of data that make up records |
| Field name | name that identifies a field |
| Form | a format that displays one record at a time; used to enter or update data |
| Primary key | in a database, a field that uniquely identifies each record in a table |
| Query | a structured way to tell a database to retrieve data from one or more database tables that meet certain criteria |
| Record | in a database, a record lists info about one person or one thing |
| Report | in a database, objects that use data from tables and/or queries to create a presentation-based printout |
| Table | a form created with columns and rows |