What characterizes a hierarchical database?

The characteristic that defines a hierarchical database is that each record is organized in a tree-like structure, where each record (or child record) relates to a master or parent record. This parent-child relationship establishes a clear hierarchy, allowing for organized data management and retrieval. In this model, a single parent may have multiple children, but each child can only have one parent, which facilitates an efficient way to navigate through data.

The other options do not accurately describe the hierarchical database model. For instance, a flat file structure does not incorporate any hierarchical relationships, which is a distinctive feature of hierarchical databases. The use of hierarchical databases is not limited to relational data, as they are designed to handle specific types of data structures, while relational databases emphasize connections through tables without necessarily employing a hierarchical format. Furthermore, describing data stored in a non-structured way contrasts with the structured nature of hierarchical databases, where the data is meticulously organized according to defined relationships.