Final answer:
The correct option is C. The software programs used for creating and maintaining databases are called Database Management Systems (DBMS). They allow for various operations on data within databases, such as adding, deleting, updating, and querying. The correct answer is Option C, DBMS.
Step-by-step explanation:
The software programs that assist in creating and maintaining databases are known as Database Management Systems (DBMS). These programs serve as the interface between the user and the database, allowing for data organization, storage, and retrieval. A DBMS provides tools for managing data in databases, including facilities for adding, deleting, updating, querying, and reporting data. DBMS software examples include MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle Database, and PostgreSQL.
Option C, DBMS, is the correct answer to the question above because it specifically refers to the category of software designed to manage databases. Metadata is information about data, knowledge management involves strategies and systems for managing organizational knowledge, and database application systems are specific applications that utilize databases and may be created using a DBMS.