The document provides an introduction to database management systems (DBMS). It defines key terms like database, data, mini-world, and DBMS. It describes typical DBMS functionality like defining and constructing a database, manipulating data through queries and updates, and providing concurrent access and security. An example university database is presented to illustrate entities, relationships, and different views of the data. Main characteristics of the database approach are also summarized, including being self-describing, providing insulation between programs and data, supporting abstraction and multiple views.