database: provides a way of organizing information so that you can easily find what you are looking for. Some types of databases are:

Print Databases
The index of a book is a print database. It allows you to go quickly to a topic in the book. A phone book is another type of print database.

Electronic Databases
We usually think of searchable electronic indexes and catalogs when we refer to databases. EBSCOhost and ProQuest are examples of  electronic databases.  A database quickly looks for a subject or topic in periodicals.