ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Database preservation

So imagine you have a toy box where you keep all your favorite toys. Now let's say you want to keep those toys safe and you don't want them to get lost or broken. You need to preserve them, which means keeping them in good condition for a long time.

In the same way, a database is a big box that stores lots of information or data. Sometimes, this data is very important and needs to be preserved for a long time, even after the people who created it are gone.

To do this, we need to make sure that the database is saved in a way that it can be accessed and used in the future. This means making sure that the data is not lost or damaged, and that it can be opened and read by future computer programs.

There are different techniques for preserving databases, just like there are different ways to keep your toys safe. One of these techniques is called digital preservation, which means storing the data in a way that it won't be lost, damaged, or become obsolete.

This can involve making copies of the database and keeping them in different locations, like a backup toy box in case the first one gets lost. It can also involve using special software to keep the data in a format that can be read by future computers, even if the original programs become outdated or stop working.

So, in conclusion, database preservation means keeping important information safe and available for future use, just like you would keep your favorite toys safe and protected for a long time.
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