It can be surprising to learn that some products have been present since the 1980s, given that data science and data engineering are at the forefront of the current technological era. 

Database 2 (Db2), one of the products, was first offered by IBM in 1983 on one of its primary platforms.

Db2 is still used as a relational database. Older organisations and sectors continue to keep their data on Db2, despite the emergence of other database management systems. Additionally, new versions are still being released. 

Learn everything there is to know about Db2 in this article, including what it is, how it functions, and who uses it.

What is Db2?

Db2 is a database management system (DBMS) developed by IBM. It is designed to store, retrieve, and manipulate data in a structured format. 

Db2 is a database server that can store and manage data in a database. It is often used to support data management in large enterprise applications, such as financial, supply chain, and customer relationship management systems.

Db2 is available in several versions, including Db2 for z/OS, Db2 for i, Db2 for Linux, Unix, and Windows, and Db2 for Cloud. 

Each version is optimised for a specific operating system and hardware platform and is designed to support the particular needs of that platform. 

Db2 supports various programming languages and application development environments and can be accessed through multiple interfaces, including SQL, APIs, and JDBC.

Db2 is known for its reliability, scalability, and security features and is used by many organisations worldwide to store and manage their data.

Features of Db2

• Support for multiple data models: Db2 supports several data models, including relational, object-oriented, and graph data models. This allows you to choose the data model that best fits your application's needs. Some of the critical features of Db2 include the following:
• Support for multiple programming languages: Db2 supports many programming languages, including SQL, C, C++, Java, and Python. This allows you to use the language you are most familiar with to develop applications that interact with Db2.
• Scalability: Db2 is designed to support large-scale, enterprise-level applications. It can handle vast amounts of data and manage high levels of concurrency, making it suitable for mission-critical applications.
• High availability: Db2 supports several features to ensure high availability, including the ability to replicate data across multiple servers and automatically failover to a standby server in the event of a server failure.
• Security: Db2 includes various security features, including data encryption, user authentication, and access control.
• Data management and optimisation: Db2 includes various tools and features to help you manage and optimise your data, including indexing, partitioning, and data compression.
• Advanced analytics: Db2 includes advanced analytics capabilities, machine learning, data mining, and statistical analysis support.
• Cloud-ready: Db2 is available in a cloud-ready version, which allows you to deploy and manage Db2 in a cloud environment.

Overall, Db2 is a powerful and feature-rich database management system that is suitable for a wide range of applications and industries.

Db2 products

Several different versions of Db2 are available, each designed to support a specific operating system and hardware platform. Some of the main Db2 products include

• Db2 for z/OS: This version of Db2 is designed to run on IBM mainframes and supports the z/OS operating system. It is optimised for high-performance and high-concurrency environments and is suitable for mission-critical applications.
• Db2 for i: This version of Db2 is designed to run on IBM Power Systems servers and supports the IBM operating system. It is optimised for business applications and is particularly popular in the finance and manufacturing sectors.
• Db2 for Linux, Unix, and Windows (LUW): This version of Db2 is designed to run on a wide range of hardware and operating systems, including Linux, Unix, and Windows. It is suitable for use in both small and large-scale applications.
• Db2 for Cloud: This version of Db2 is designed to be deployed and managed in a cloud environment. It is a fully managed service on the IBM Cloud and can be easily integrated with other cloud services and tools.

In addition to these main products, IBM offers a range of tools and utilities to help you develop, deploy, and manage applications that use Db2. These include data modelling, migration, integration, and application development tools.

Careers that use Db2

Db2 is a database management system used in many industries and sectors. 

As a result, several different careers involve the use of Db2. Some examples of jobs that might use Db2 include:

• Database administrators: Database administrators (DBAs) are responsible for managing and maintaining databases, including installing, configuring, and upgrading database software. DBAs who work with Db2 are accountable for ensuring that the database runs efficiently and effectively and for troubleshooting any issues that may arise.
• Data analysts: Data analysts collect, organise, and analyse data to help organisations make informed decisions. They may use Db2 to access and manipulate data to perform statistical analyses, create reports, and visualise data.
• Data scientists: Data scientists use advanced analytical techniques to extract insights and knowledge from large and complex datasets. They may use Db2 to access and process data in machine learning and other analytical models.
• Software developers: Software developers are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining software applications. They may use Db2 as their applications' underlying database and need to write code to interact with the database and retrieve data.
• Business intelligence professionals: Business intelligence (BI) professionals are responsible for designing and implementing systems that help organisations gather and analyse data to make better business decisions. They may use Db2 as a data source for BI tools and techniques.

Overall, Db2 is an essential tool for a wide range of careers in the field of data management and analysis. If you are interested in working with Db2, consider pursuing a career in one of these areas.

Examples of Db2

• Financial services: Many financial institutions use Db2 to store and manage data related to customer accounts, transactions, and other financial information. Db2's high performance and reliability make it well-suited for use in economic systems. Here are a few examples of how Db2 is used in different industries:
• Healthcare: Db2 is often used in healthcare applications to store and manage patient records, medical billing information, and other data. Its ability to handle large amounts of data and high concurrency levels make it well-suited for healthcare systems.
• Manufacturing: Many companies use Db2 to store and manage production, inventory, and supply chain data. Db2's scalability and data management features make it well-suited for manufacturing systems.
• Retail: Retail companies often use Db2 to store and manage customer transactions, inventory, and supply chain management data. Its ability to handle large amounts of data and support high levels of concurrency make it well-suited for use in retail systems.
• Government: Db2 is often used by government agencies to store and manage data related to city records, public services, and other data. Its security features and ability to handle large amounts of data make it well-suited for use in government systems.