. 2020 Feb 25;175(1):35–49. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaa025

Table 2.

Description of the Storage Technologies Used by CEE Systematic Maps

Storage Technology	Description
Spreadsheets	Spreadsheets are stand-alone applications which offer functionality for end-users wishing to explore and/or manipulate data (Zynda, 2013). A spreadsheet stores data in the cells of 2-dimensional arrays made up of rows and columns. By referencing the coordinates of cells in mathematical formulae, spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Excel facilitate analysis, transformation, and visualization of tabular data. Although designed and optimized for quantitative data and accounting applications, spreadsheets are commonly used for storing and organizing data in a variety of research contexts, including systematic mapping exercises.
Relational databases	A relational database uses several formally described tables to organize data. Each table stores instances of an entity (across rows), described by a series of attributes (columns). In contrast to storing data in a single, flat data table, relational databases are able to preserve the connection between related entities. These connections are predefined and created through a system of referencing unique identifiers (primary/foreign keys) in corresponding tables. This allows users to enrich their queries with connected information, such that more complex questions can be asked of the evidence base (Elmasri and Navathe, 2013).

Storage Technology

Description

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets are stand-alone applications which offer functionality for end-users wishing to explore and/or manipulate data (Zynda, 2013). A spreadsheet stores data in the cells of 2-dimensional arrays made up of rows and columns. By referencing the coordinates of cells in mathematical formulae, spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Excel facilitate analysis, transformation, and visualization of tabular data. Although designed and optimized for quantitative data and accounting applications, spreadsheets are commonly used for storing and organizing data in a variety of research contexts, including systematic mapping exercises.

Relational databases

A relational database uses several formally described tables to organize data. Each table stores instances of an entity (across rows), described by a series of attributes (columns). In contrast to storing data in a single, flat data table, relational databases are able to preserve the connection between related entities. These connections are predefined and created through a system of referencing unique identifiers (primary/foreign keys) in corresponding tables. This allows users to enrich their queries with connected information, such that more complex questions can be asked of the evidence base (Elmasri and Navathe, 2013).