hello every1 .. am new here.. am doin my dissertation. but am kinda confused about something. i know sql and access are types of databases. but i was lookin into the history of data storage and i found things like the punchcard, floppy disc, magnetic core, cd etc.

Since database is a means of storing data, does that mean dat punchcards and floppy discs were what were been used before the use of databases???

another question .. where do flat files or xml files come in??

am doin my dissertation.

I would suggest you are going to fail!

SQL is a language

Microsoft Access I would assume. Is adesktop database SERVER not a database.

Since database is a means of storing data, does that mean dat punchcards and floppy discs were what were been used before the use of databases???

A database first job is not exactly data storage, but keeping relations between disparate bits of informations.
It needs to store those data, sure, and any type of physical data storage will do, be it floppy, tape, memory or hdd.

Flat file and xml files are just a way of storing that information, like binary hashed tree.