What is a database?
Answer
When you hear your professor or one of the librarians say "database", we are referring to a research tool that you can use to find information for your paper or project, a searchable compilation of articles, citations and other information.
Not all databases are the same. Some databases are collections of thousands of full-text books or articles you can read online. Other databases provide basic article information (a.k.a. indexing that includes citations and abstracts only) that you can use to discover the existence of an article. Some databases are searchable collections of images or videos. Most databases are purchased on a subscription basis by your library, to provide consistent access to content.
Bottom line: a library database is a good source for information!