Bazele de date și cercetarea istorică. Principiile de bază ale funcționării bazelor de date
Databases and Historical Research. Basic Principles of Operation

Summary/Abstract: Since the first proposed relational model in 1970, the number of databases has increased exponentially. Nowadays the use of a database is part of common knowledge, the historical population studies making no exception to this. Databases are an immensely useful tool for almost every historian/researcher, regardless of field of study. However, it is necessary that historians/end users understand the main principles underpinning the architecture of a database, what it can do, and what its purposes are. A properly managed database offers fast results for every research query, low storage space and easy sharing of data. Nowadays, with the advancement of technology, there are multiple database systems available, not only relational sql but also graph variants and spatial databases that the researcher can choose from. We expect that in the future the number of databases focused on organizing data used in the study of historical population will increase even more. It is however essential that this increase is reflected in the dissemination of general knowledge concerning the characteristics of databases, their functionality, and the process of translation of historical information into data. The creation of database architecture will always involve two sides, whose input is significant in the success of the database: the historian who knows their sources best in terms of structure and heterogeneity, and has a well-defined research question (or area) in mind; the database architect who can assess and implement the best solution to suit the needs of the researcher.

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