In an enterprise-class system, the DBMS serves as an interface between which two components?

Introduction / Context:
The Database Management System (DBMS) is middleware that manages storage, retrieval, transactions, and concurrency.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We consider the high-level architecture of software that uses a database.

Concept / Approach:
Applications do not directly manipulate on-disk structures; they send commands (SQL/driver calls) to the DBMS. The DBMS then executes those commands against the database files and returns results.

Step-by-Step Reasoning:

Verification / Alternative check:
Any standard client-server DB architecture diagram shows the DBMS between clients and data files.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Data and the database → both are storage-side; the interface is not here.
• User and the application → typically handled by UI; unrelated to DBMS.
• Application and SQL → SQL is a language, not a component.

Common Pitfalls:
Using “database” and “DBMS” interchangeably; they are distinct.

Final Answer:
Database application and the database