dBase

dBASE is a database management system and programming language designed for microcomputers. It originated in the late 1970s and became one of the most widely used desktop database products of the era, especially for business data management on personal computers running DOS and, later, Windows. dBASE is part of the broader family of xBase languages, combining a database engine with a procedural language that allowed developers to write data-driven applications.

The system stores data in table files with the .dbf extension. Each table consists of records and fields defined by a data dictionary, and data can be manipulated with a set of commands such as USE, LIST, or BROWSE, often used in combination with a built-in programming language. Many versions also used separate index files (.idx, .ndx, or later .mdx) to speed lookups, and memo files (.dbt) for unstructured text fields. The environment supported simple forms of data integrity and basic report generation suitable for small to mid-sized datasets.

Historically, dBASE was developed and marketed by Ashton-Tate, with the first widely adopted releases in the 1980s, followed by dBASE III and dBASE IV. The company was acquired by Borland in 1991, and later owners continued to release Windows-era variants before the product line declined in dominance as relational database systems with SQL gained prominence. Despite this, the .dbf format and many concepts from dBASE influenced a wide range of compatible tools and dialects.

Legacy and influence continue to be felt in open-source and proprietary alternatives that preserve the dBASE data model or emulate its syntax. The language and file format also left a lasting imprint on data management practices in personal and small-business computing.