This document provides an overview of database management systems (DBMS). It defines a DBMS as consisting of a collection of persistent data and a set of programs to access and manage that data. It briefly discusses the history of DBMS development from early hierarchical models to today's dominant relational model. It describes the purposes of a DBMS in ensuring data integrity, security, and independence from applications. It also outlines the conceptual architecture of a DBMS including its external, conceptual, and internal levels. Key components and features of DBMS are defined, along with advantages like data sharing and consistency, and disadvantages like implementation costs. Finally, it distinguishes between data definition and manipulation languages used to define and interact with database schemas and data.