Learn SQL (Structured Query Language) from Installation to Database Management and Database Administration. Anything that stores data records is called a database. It can be a file, CD, hard disk, or any number of storage solutions. From a programming point of view, a database is a methodically structured repository of indexed data information that can be easily accessed by the users for creating, retrieving, updating and deleting information. Data can be stored in many forms. Most applications require a database for storing information.