They give meaning to simple data. Related data elements like names, addresses and phone numbers are combined to form records. Different records are then stored in a table and may be related to other tables. Knowledge can be acquired from the relationships that exist among different tables in a database. The relationship that might exist between a customer table and a product table could show those products that are producing adequate margins, providing decision-makers with strategic marketing knowledge.
Many different relations can exist and are only limited by the human imagination.
These relational databases help users to make knowledgeable decisions, which is a goal of knowledge management. Descriptions and facts about processes and solutions to problems are recorded and categorized. When a problem is encountered, queries or searches point to the solution. CBR applications store limited knowledge from individuals who have encountered a problem and found the solution and are useful in transferring this knowledge to others. They focus on specific processes and typically lead the user, step by step, toward a solution.