Glossary A–ZLetter D
Database connection
A database connection links a signage system directly to a database from which it reads content such as prices, appointments, stock levels or measurements.
The screen then always shows the current state of the database without anyone transferring data by hand.
In practice, this is rarely done by the player accessing the database directly. An intermediate layer is usual: the management system or a small service queries the database at fixed intervals and provides the values for templates or widgets. An example is a staff canteen whose menu is maintained in a database and appears on several screens.
Operators should set up read-only access and give the signage system its own account with as few rights as possible. The database should not be exposed to the internet just so that a screen can query it. It should also be clear what the screen shows when the database does not respond, and who adapts the connection when the database structure changes.