What is a database?

A database is fundamentally defined as an organized collection of data that enables easy access, management, and updating. This structure allows users to efficiently store, retrieve, and manipulate information. Databases can handle large volumes of data and support various operations, such as adding new data, querying existing information, and modifying records, making them essential for many applications in business, research, and beyond.

Other options do not fit the definition of a database. For instance, software used for editing text documents serves a different purpose, focusing on document creation and formatting rather than data management. Likewise, a collection of web pages linked to one another refers to a website, which functions primarily to present information rather than store and manage data systematically. Finally, programs used to design graphics and images are specialized tools for visual content creation, rather than for organizing data in a structured way as databases do.