A database managing apparatus, which can immediately obtain desired data from a database. A database managing apparatus includes a CPU, an input/output device, a main memory and an external memory. The CPU has a controller that initially obtains one article record from stored records via the input/output device. The controller reads out definition data in a database definition file. Then, the controller classifies the obtained records according to attributions based on the definition data. The controller does not compress the data regarding the record group belonging to the attribution A, which is the record group to be searched, but compresses data regarding the record groups belonging to the attributions B-E, which are the record groups other than the record group to be searched. As a result, the controller can reduce the unnecessary decompression of record data belonging to other attributions than the attribution to be searched. As a result, the controller can quickly retrieve the requested record.