What is a database/data management?

Database and data management packaged software products provide an engine for the storage, retrieval, and management of relationships between discrete information objects^[1]. We use the term object somewhat loosely here, for in truth only object databases actually treat information as objects. Still, the general principal applies to all database and data management products, though the terminology of the information might involve items like rows, columns, records, and fields rather than objects.

SQL, or structured query language, is the standard access language for relational databases. The world's most popular relational database, produced by Oracle, has a slightly modified version of SQL, known as PL/SQL.
ODBC^[2] and JDBC are middleware constructs that allow program objects and/or components to access databases regardless of the underlying physical implementation of the database.

Note: Many enterprise applications vendors include their own Business Intelligence (BI) and data warehousing capabilities as add-ons to their core products. The problem with many of these add-on products, however, is that they only apply to the enterprise application, and are not designed to be used as general purpose data warehousing or business intelligence products.

[1]Discrete Information Objects: A chunk of information. For example, first name would be one discrete information object, while social security number would be another.

[2]Open Data Base Connectivity (ODBC): Inserts a middle layer, better known as a database driver, making it possible to access any data from any application, regardless of which database management system handles the data. For this to occur, the application must be capable of issuing ODBC commands and the database management system must be capable of responding to them.