4. Database examples

Telephone directories

If you don't want to use the paper-based version, a telephone number can be found using an online database such as yell.co.uk.

Type in the category you are looking for e.g. builder, type in the area e.g. Warwick and a search will be performed on all the records in the database before giving you a list of results which match your requirements a second or so later.

Electoral register

Details of every person in the United Kingdom over the age of 18 are kept on local electoral registers (also called the 'electoral roll'). This database records your name, address, date of birth and national insurance number.

When an election is imminent, cards are printed for every person who is eligible to vote. The cards are then sent to their home address. The card must be brought along to the polling station in order to vote (once).