Western Governors University (WGU) ITEC2001 C182 Introduction to IT Practice Exam

A Flat File Database is fundamentally characterized by its structure, which consists of a single table that holds all the data. Unlike relational databases, which utilize multiple interrelated tables that allow for complex queries and relationships, a flat file database simplifies data storage by consolidating everything into one single table. This approach makes it easy to manage smaller datasets, as there is no need for complex normalization or inter-table relationships.

In this context, a flat file database might be ideal for scenarios involving minimal data, where the overhead of managing multiple tables is unnecessary. By storing data in a single large table, retrieval and input can be straightforward, although it may lead to redundancy or inefficiency if the data size grows significantly. This simplicity is both an advantage and a limitation of flat file databases, as they may not efficiently handle complex relationships or large volumes of data compared to more advanced database systems.