Databases are software packages which allow storage, manipulation, and retrieval of vast amounts of related information. Most database programs amass data in the forms of ~records~. These may be searched, sorted, or ordered by key words or subjects. Once the data is available, you can generate various reports based on different criteria.
Basic databases allow manipulation of simple lists and are known as "flat file" systems. The more elaborate databases allow linking between the individual lists to cross-reference information. These are known as "relational databases" and are much more powerful, but are also more expensive and difficult to use. Both types may have an associated ~programming~ language to allow the automation of needed functions.
