A covariance matrix is a square matrix that captures the pairwise covariances between elements of a vector, providing a numerical measure of how much two random variables change together. It is extensively used in multivariate statistical analyses to understand data relationships, variability, and to perform transformations such as Principal Component Analysis.
A database management system (DBMS) is software that facilitates the creation, manipulation, and administration of databases, enabling users to store, retrieve, and manage data efficiently. It ensures data integrity, security, and consistency while supporting concurrent access and complex queries, making it essential for modern data-driven applications.
A relational database is a structured collection of data that uses a schema to define relationships between tables, enabling efficient data retrieval and manipulation through SQL queries. It ensures data integrity and reduces redundancy by organizing data into tables where each row is a unique record identified by a primary key.