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A Denotational Approach to Object-Oriented Query Language Definition

  • Conference paper
Specifications of Database Systems

Part of the book series: Workshops in Computing ((WORKSHOPS COMP.))

Abstract

A denotational semantics approach to object-oriented database query language definition provides an elegant formalism for specifying the syntax and semantics of the query language. The challenge is to characterize an object-oriented database (OODB) as a semantic domain, so that query expressions can be mapped to their meaning in terms of the OODB. In this research, a high-level, conceptual view of OODBs and an algebraic query language that support query processing studies are proposed. The model is applicable to structurally similar database models, which includes most object-oriented and semantic databases; it can support complex objects, inclusion dependencies (the isa relationship), exclusion dependencies (the disjoint relationship), direct associations (properties) between complex objects, multi-valued properties, and modification of inherited properties. The query algebra is a closed and complete language in the spirit of relational algebra, supporting both value-oriented and object-oriented query processing in a single language. A contribution of the denotational definition of the model and query language is the precise characterization of both the rich intension and the extension of an OODB and of the results of queries on the OODB. In this paper, the conceptual model and query algebra are discussed and formalized, followed by an illustration of how the formal definition enables proofs of algebraic transformations for logical query optimization.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Karen C. Davis

  2. The Center for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, LA, USA

    Lois M. L. Delcambre

Authors
  1. Karen C. Davis
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  2. Lois M. L. Delcambre
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, University of Glasgow, 17 Lilybank Gardens, G12 8QQ, Glasgow, Scotland

    David J. Harper BSc, PhD  & Moira C. Norrie BSc, MSc  & 

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag London

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Davis, K.C., Delcambre, L.M.L. (1992). A Denotational Approach to Object-Oriented Query Language Definition. In: Harper, D.J., Norrie, M.C. (eds) Specifications of Database Systems. Workshops in Computing. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3864-8_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3864-8_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-19732-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3864-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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