The Problem of Incomplete Information in Relational Databases (Lecture Notes in Computer Science 554)

Grahne, G. (ed.)

ISBN 10: 0387549196 / ISBN 13: 9780387549194

Published by Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1992

About this Item

Lecture Notes in Computer Science 554; Ex-Library. Previous owner's sticker on the front cover. Ink stamp on half-title page. Small pen inscription on title page. Library catalogue sticker inside front cover. Faintly bumped spine foot and rubbed corners. Foot of page block slightly grubby and marked due to age. Sound, clean book with tight binding. ADG.

Seller Inventory # 094449

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Problem of Incomplete Information in Relational Databases (Lecture Notes in Computer Science 554)
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag, Berlin
• Publication Date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0387549196
• ISBN 13: 9780387549194
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket
• Book Type: Ex-Library
• Seller catalogs:
  • Computers & Technology (incl. AI)

About this title

Synopsis

In a relational database the information is recorded as rows in tables. However, in many practical situations the available information is incomplete and the values for some columns are missing. Yet few existing database management systems allow the user to enter null values in the database. This monograph analyses the problems raised by allowing null values in relational databases. The analysis covers semantical, syntactical, and computational aspects. Algorithms for query evaluation, dependency enforcement and updates in the presence of null values are also given. The analysis of the computational complexity of the algorithms suggests that from a practical point of view the database should be stored as Horn tables, which are generalizations of ordinary relations, allowing null values and Horn clause-like restrictions on these null values. Horn tables efficiently support a large class of queries, dependencies and updates.