Answer:
There are several reasons why you would choose to use a database management system (DBMS) instead of simply storing data in operating system files:
Data Integrity: DBMSs provide a variety of mechanisms for ensuring the integrity and consistency of the data in the database, such as data validation and constraint enforcement, which are not available when storing data in operating system files.
Concurrent Access: DBMSs allow multiple users to access and modify the data in the database at the same time, while maintaining consistency and integrity. This is difficult to achieve with operating system files, which can only be accessed by one user or program at a time.
Data Query and Retrieval: DBMSs provide powerful query and retrieval capabilities that make it easy to extract specific information from the database. This is much more difficult with operating system files, which require manual parsing and manipulation.
Scalability: DBMSs are designed to handle large amounts of data and can scale up to support growing amounts of data and users. Storing data in operating system files can quickly become unwieldy and difficult to manage as the data grows.
On the other hand, there are some situations where it may make sense not to use a database system:
Small amount of data: If you have a small amount of data that does not change frequently, it may be simpler and more cost-effective to store it in operating system files.
Limited resources: If you have limited resources, such as memory or processing power, it may be more efficient to store data in operating system files instead of using a DBMS, which can be resource-intensive.
Single user scenarios: If the data is only going to be accessed and modified by a single user or program, a DBMS may be overkill, and storing data in operating system files would be more efficient.
Specialized use case: Some specific use cases may not require a full-featured DBMS, and other types of data storage solutions may be more appropriate.