A flat-file database is designed to store data in a single, plain text file where values are arranged in records and fields, often separated by delimiters such as commas, tabs, or semicolons. A common example is a CSV file, which stores each record on its own line and separates fields with commas. In Information Technology fundamentals, flat-file storage is frequently introduced as a simple way to maintain structured data without requiring a complex database management system. Flat-file databases work well for smaller datasets, simple lists, data exports, and situations where relationships between multiple tables are not required. However, because everything is typically stored in one file, flat-file systems can become inefficient and error-prone when data grows large or when updates must maintain consistency across repeated values. Hierarchical databases organize data in parent-child trees, distributed databases store data across multiple machines, and cloud databases focus on hosting and access models. For delimiter-separated plain text storage, the correct type is a flat-file database.