Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Flexibility in relations + stronger security controls + data independence (all three)
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) are widely adopted because they balance data integrity, security, and flexibility. This question tests your understanding of the core advantages typically cited in information systems and database design courses.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
To answer, recall standard textbook advantages of RDBMS: logical data independence, physical data independence, rich integrity constraints, declarative querying (SQL), and robust security models. RDBMS also supports flexible relationships via keys and foreign keys, enabling normalized, consistent linking of logical files (tables).
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Flexibility: Relations (tables) can be linked using keys, enabling queries that combine datasets without duplicating data.2) Security controls: Mature authentication, authorization, views, and auditing reduce unauthorized access and protect sensitive data.3) Data independence: Schemas can evolve (new attributes, new relations) while minimizing impact on applications, thanks to logical data independence.4) Evaluating options: The most complete set is the one that includes all three recognized advantages.
Verification / Alternative check:
Consult standard DBMS texts: advantages consistently include integrity, security, and data independence, with relational flexibility through normalization and keys. Real systems like PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQL Server demonstrate these properties in practice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Only-one-advantage options are incomplete and therefore incorrect because they omit other core benefits that RDBMS provide in practice.
Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse performance with advantage categories. While RDBMS can be performant, performance depends on workload and design; the key theoretical advantages are independence, security, and relational flexibility.
Final Answer:
Flexibility in relations + stronger security controls + data independence (all three).
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