What is the difference between a database and knowledge base?

Originally answered Apr 25, 2018

A database is a collection of information organized for easy access, management, and updating. The data it contains is in a basic form, and thus needs to be further analyzed and/or processed before it can be applied. See Analytics and Business Intelligence for more.

A knowledge base is a repository typically used to store answers to questions or solutions to problems enabling rapid search, retrieval, and reuse, either by help desk personnel, or directly by those needing support. A good example is Knowledge Centered Service (KCS). The entries in the knowledge base are fully-developed and ready to be applied. See Repositories and Knowledge Bases for more.

Books

• On Knowledge Base Management Systems: Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Database Technologies edited by Michael L. Brodie and John Mylopoulos
• Introduction to Database and Knowledge-Base Systems by S. Krishna
• Principles of Database and Knowledge-Base Systems, Vol. 1: Classical Database Systems by Jeffrey D. Ullman
• Principles of Database and Knowledge-Base Systems Vol. 2: The New Technologies by Jeffrey D. Ullman