Technology

There have been various discussions regarding spreadsheets and databases. This could be attributed to the fact that a lot of people contest the feasibility of one tool over the other. In this paper we will provide a definition of what a spreadsheet is, then derive the definition of a database and provide a comparative discussion between the two.
Spreadsheet applications, otherwise known simply as spreadsheets, are computer programs which allow for users to simulate the creation and manipulation of spreadsheets electronically. They can easily be described graphically as applications which display cells altogether forming a grid of columns and rows. Cells may contain alphanumeric texts or numerical values, and they can also contain formulas to describe cell relationships. Most spreadsheet applications have support for multi dimensional linkage, meaning two or more spreadsheets may be linked with each other using formulas.  Once the formulas required have been defined, the user may then experiment on the values to see effective changes and behavior. This characteristic of spreadsheets allows them to be considered as basic decision support system. Spreadsheet applications are widely used in homes, offices and business establishments. In cases of small businesses, the functionalities provided by spreadsheets prove to be enough to maintain daily operations. However, when businesses get bigger, more data is inputted and manipulated by more users, the need for better solutions becomes apparent. This is where database gets into the scene. A database is a computer program which offers mechanism for storing, manipulating and retrieving information in an organized manner. Like spreadsheets, databases approach this functionality by using tables. Database tables also consist of rows and columns, the data type that can be stored in cells under the same column is set by the user, and this characteristic of the column is called its attribute. A row or an entry in a database is called a record. At this point, it would seem obvious that databases share a lot of similarities with spreadsheets, if so, what exactly are the characteristics of a database that makes people consider using them instead of spreadsheets The answer is that databases are actually far more superior to spreadsheets in terms of the ways users are able to manipulate data. Databases are easier to share unlike spreadsheets multiple users may gain access to a single database simultaneously. They offer better security and data integrity because the data type in each column is defined and as a result, users are protected from committing simple mistakes. Databases have greater capacity, entries in a database may reach billions, and even with this staggering amount of data the user does not have to feel overwhelmed, since databases can be queried according to the needs of the user. Databases create less duplication both file duplication and duplication of source data.  Databases however, are more complex to understand than spreadsheets because of this it requires more investment in training but is sure to yield more profit. To wrap it all up, the differences that exist between these tools are mainly attributed to the level of complexity of the work being done and the user is willing to take.