Explain in detail the various functions, which can be achieved through the use of Database Management System (DBMS).

Database Management System (DBMS) performs several functions that guarantee the integrity and consistency of the data in the database. Some of the functions of DBMS are: Data Dictionary Management: The DBMS stores definitions of the data elements and their relationships (metadata) in a data dictionary. The DBMS uses this dictionary to look up the required data component structures and relationships, thus relieving the programmer from having to code such complex relationships in each program. All programs that access the data in the database work through the DBMS and any changes made in a database structure are automatically recorded in the data dictionary. In this way the DBMS provides data abstraction, removes structural and data dependency from the system. Data Storage Management: The DBMS creates and manages the complex structures required for data storage, thus relieving programmer from the difficult task of defining and programming the physical data characteristics. Data storage management is also important for database performance tuning. Performance tuning relates to the activities that make the database perform more efficiently in terms of storage and access speed. Data Transformation and Presentation: The DBMS transforms entered data to conform to required data structures by formatting the physically retrieved data in conformity to the user's logical expectations. Example: An end user in India would expect to enter data such as June 15, 2010 as 15/06/10 whereas the same date is entered in US as 06/15/10. Security Management: The DBMS creates a security system that enforces user security and data privacy. Security rules determine which users can access the database which data items each user can access and which data operations (read, add, delete or modify) the user can perform. This is especially important in multiuser database system. Multi-user Access Control: To provide data integrity and data consistency, the DBMS uses sophisticated algorithms to ensure that multiple users can access the database concurrently without compromising the integrity of the database. Backup and Recovery Management: The DBMS provides backup and data recovery to ensure data safety and integrity. Current DBMS systems provide special utilities that allow the Database Administrator to perform routine and special backup and restore procedures. Recovery management deals with the recovery of the database after a failure such as a bad sector in the disk or a power failure. Data Integrity Management: The DBMS uses data relationships stored in the data dictionary to enforce data integrity and, thus minimize data redundancy and maximize data consistency. The. Ensuring data integrity is especially important in transaction-oriented database systems. Database Access Languages and API: The DBMS provides data access through a query language, that lets the user specify what must be done without having to specify how is to be done. SQL is the query language and data access standard supported by majority of DBMS vendors. The DBMS also provides application programming interfaces to procedural languages such as COBOL, C, Java, etc. In addition, the DBMS provides administrative utilities used by the DBA and the database designer to create, implement, monitor and maintain the database. Database Communication Interface: Current generation DBMSs accept end-user requests via multiple, different network environments. For example, the DBMS might provide access to the database via the Internet through the use of Web Browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox.