A computer program used to manage a database. In its simplest form, it is a computerized filing system. In more elaborate forms, it relates information from different files together to produce new files, reports, and detailed analyses. Different DBMSs also tend to have their own languages with which they can be programmed for specific purposes, such as automatically performing certain functions when certain types of data are entered. The actual DBMS is frequently hidden from the user by a “user-friendly interface” which prompts and guides the user every step of the way. DBMSs may be further described as being hierarchical or relational, for instance.