Can We Rely on SQL?
J.H. ter Bekke
Abstract
It is important for any data language that it enables many people to derive
correct information from a databases in a simple, effective way with
predictable performance. In an analysis is shown that SQL cannot fulfill
these essential preconditions. It is caused by insufficient structural
semantics of the relational model and the related operations in SQL.
This follows from a comparison with results obtained from application of the
semantic Xplain data language. The consequences of these shortcomings are
an extreme performance degradation and a growing uncertainty among SQL
users.
Keywords: query languages, relational pitfalls.
Publication Data
Proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Database and Expert Systems
Applications DEXA'97, Toulouse, pp. 378-383.
Editor: R.R. Wagner
Publisher: IEEE Computer Society, Los Alamitos, California
Year: 1997
ISBN: 0-8186-8147-0