What is a system that stores and provides querying capabilities for data?

A database is a structured system that stores, organizes, and allows access to data. It is designed specifically to facilitate efficient querying and data management. With a database, users can execute complex query operations to retrieve specific information quickly, perform data manipulation, and maintain data integrity.

Databases typically use a query language such as SQL (Structured Query Language), enabling users to interact with the data using familiar commands. This makes databases suitable for applications where data needs to be frequently accessed, updated, or managed by multiple users.

In contrast, while a file system stores data as files in a directory structure, it does not inherently provide the sophisticated querying capabilities that a database does. A data warehouse, on the other hand, is designed for analytical purposes and aggregating data from multiple sources, and it typically serves a different use case than a standard database. Similarly, a data mart is a subset of a data warehouse tailored for specific business lines or departments but also lacks the full capabilities of a general database for ongoing transactional queries and operations.