database 
Any collection of structured information, but most often used to describe a related group of files generated and manipulated by database software. Databases are typically structured using tables divided into columns and rows of related data, such as customer records, product information, sales transactions, and so on. For example, each column of a customer database table might define an individual type of data, known as a field, such as an account number, name, e-mail address, and so on. Each row, known as a record, would contain all the field values for a single customer. Relational database software enables you to link tables to produce interesting reports or query results, such as all the people in Nebraska (derived from the customer table) who bought rider mowers with power steering (derived from the product table). The great advantage of databases is that their contents can be manipulated and reused in a variety of contexts--billing, sales, marketing, and so on--which is why businesses almost always make them available to multiple users on a network.