![[open refrigerator with contents]](http://s3.amazonaws.com/libapps/accounts/41838/images/green_fridge.jpg)
We've mentioned databases a couple of times. What are databases, anyway?
A database is a collection of data organized for rapid search and retrieval by a computer. Examples of databases are Amazon.com, Academic Search Complete, Netflix, and the library's catalog, OneSearch.
It is useful to think of databases as containers of information. Just as your refrigerator has many containers of food, a library has many containers--or databases--of information. These databases usually contain articles, but can also be collections of videos, book chapters, and more.
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