An Implementation Technique for Database Query Languages

Peter Buneman, Robert E. Frankel, Rishiyur S. Nikhil

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Structured query languages, such as those available for relational databases, are becoming increasingly desirable for all database management systems. Such languages are applicative: there is no need for an assignment or update statement. A new technique is described that allows for the implementation of applicative query languages against most commonly used database systems. The technique involves "lazy" evaluation and has a number of advantages over existing methods: it allows queries and functions of arbitrary complexity to be constructed; it reduces the use of secondary storage; it provides a simple control structure through which interfaces to other programs may be constructed; and the implementation, including the database interface, is quite compact. Although the technique is presented for a specific functional programming system and for a CODASYL DBMS, it is general and may be used for other query languages and database systems.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)164-186
Number of pages23
JournalACM Transactions on Database Systems
Volume7
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1982

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