In
database management systems, a
file that defines the basic organization of a
database. A data dictionary contains a list of all files in the database, the number of
records in each file, and the
names and types of each
field. Most database management systems keep the data dictionary hidden from
users to prevent them from accidentally destroying its contents.
Data dictionaries do not contain any actual data from the database, only bookkeeping information for managing it. Without a data dictionary, however, a database management system cannot access data from the database.
