What is a database management system (DBMS)?

A database management system (DBMS) is essential software that acts as an intermediary between users or application programs and the database itself. Its primary role is to enable the creation, retrieval, updating, and management of data stored in databases. The DBMS handles data organization, storage, and the mechanisms required for data manipulation, ensuring that data integrity and security are maintained.

In a DBMS, users can perform operations like querying data to extract information, updating records, and handling transactions efficiently. The system abstracts the complexities of the underlying database structure, providing a user-friendly interface while employing logical structures such as tables or relational databases. This allows for better data management practices, such as enforcing data relationships, constraints, and allowing concurrent access by multiple users without conflict.

The other options do not accurately define a DBMS. Managing software installation does not pertain to databases but rather to software deployment. A framework for developing web applications is focused on the creation of web-based software and does not directly relate to database management. Similarly, a programming language is a tool used for writing software, not for managing databases specifically. Therefore, the definition provided aligns perfectly with the role and functionalities of a DBMS.