A Denotational Definition of the Semantics of DRC, A Domain Relational Calculus.

@inproceedings{DBLP:conf/vldb/LouisP82,
  author    = {Georges Louis and
               Alain Pirotte},
  title     = {A Denotational Definition of the Semantics of DRC, A Domain Relational
               Calculus},
  booktitle = {Eigth International Conference on Very Large Data Bases, September
               8-10, 1982, Mexico City, Mexico, Proceedings},
  publisher = {Morgan Kaufmann},
  year      = {1982},
  isbn      = {0-934613-14-1},
  pages     = {348-356},
  ee        = {db/conf/vldb/LouisP82.html},
  crossref  = {DBLP:conf/vldb/82},
  bibsource = {DBLP, http://dblp.uni-trier.de}
}

Abstract

This paper presents a semi-formal denotational definition of the semantics of a version of domain relational calculus called DRC. A single basic design principle governs the semantic definition: each predicate (or formula) of DRC denotes a relation.

The definition obtained is precise, short, and systematic. Generalizations of operations of the relational algebra are suggested, which correspond very directly with the semantics of DRC formulas.

This work also suggests a more active role of semantic considerations in the design process of a query language, in order to simplify the specification of the language and, eventually , the language itself.

Copyright © 1982 by the VLDB Endowment. Permission to copy without fee all or part of this material is granted provided that the copies are not made or distributed for direct commercial advantage, the VLDB copyright notice and the title of the publication and its date appear, and notice is given that copying is by the permission of the Very Large Data Base Endowment. To copy otherwise, or to republish, requires a fee and/or special permission from the Endowment.

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