Phraseanet is built on top of MySQL/InnoDB databases : ApplicationBoxes and Databoxes.
ApplicationBoxes store users, baskets, rights ont collections and links to one or more databoxes.
Databoxes are containers for records. They are different because of their documentary structure
Phraseanet also use a TaskManager. This component manages PHP scripts like Metadatas Writing, Subviews creation, indexation.
You can also manage Phraseanet through the Konsole Kommander <Console>