Indeterminacy in sql, PL-SQL Programming

Assignment Help:

Indeterminacy in SQL

Some SQL expressions are actually not function invocations at all in the mathematical sense, being indeterminate-invocations operating on identical input do not always yield the same value. The indeterminate expressions are among those that the standard defines as possibly non-deterministic, but- caveat lector-not all expressions defined as possibly non-deterministic are actually indeterminate from a mathematical viewpoint. For example, the key word USER denotes the userid (officially, the authorization identifier) of the session in which an expression containing that key word is evaluated. Such an expression is defined as possibly non-deterministic by virtue of the appearance of USER, even though invocations in different sessions, in which USER stands for different userids, are clearly different invocations.

For a more general example, a user-defined function can be explicitly declared as either DETERMINISTIC or NOT DETERMINISTIC. In the latter case the "function" is flagged such that all invocations of it are treated as possibly non-deterministic. Regardless of the appropriateness of the term non-deterministic, there is a good reason for categorizing references to the current user (or, for another example, the current time) along with genuine cases of indeterminacy. It concerns constraint declarations. We clearly want to outlaw a constraint condition whose result, when evaluated, depends on the properties of the session in which, or on the time at which, the evaluation takes place. Of course we must also outlaw genuinely indeterminate conditions-a database might satisfy such a condition but later fail to satisfy it even though the database has not been updated in the meantime! The question then arises as to how it is possible for indeterminacy to arise: surely a computer program always gives the same result when invoked with the same input?


Related Discussions:- Indeterminacy in sql

Ensuring backward compatibility, Ensuring Backward Compatibility   The...

Ensuring Backward Compatibility   The PL/SQL Version 2 permits some abnormal behavior which Version 8 disallows. Particularly, Version 2 permits you to (i) Make the forw

Identifiers in pl/sql, Identifiers You use identifiers to name the PL/S...

Identifiers You use identifiers to name the PL/SQL program items and units that include constants, variables, cursors, exceptions, cursor variables, subprograms, and packages.

Deleting objects in pl sql, Deleting Objects You can use the DELETE st...

Deleting Objects You can use the DELETE statement to eradicate objects from an object table. To eradicate objects selectively, you use the WHERE clause, as shown below: BEG

Calculate days between ordering and shipping, An analyst in the quality ass...

An analyst in the quality assurance office reviews the time lapse between receiving an order and shipping an order. Any orders that have not been shipped within a day of the order

Out mode - parameter modes, OUT Mode An OUT parameter returns values t...

OUT Mode An OUT parameter returns values to the caller of a subprogram. Within the subprogram, an OUT parameter act like a variable. That means that you can use an OUT formal

Custom ms access database designed, I would like to have a custom MS Access...

I would like to have a custom MS Access database designed and coded that would help me schedule my customer's orders and that would help me track my employees production output and

Close statement in pl sql, CLOSE Statement The CLOSE statement allows ...

CLOSE Statement The CLOSE statement allows the resources held by a cursor variable or open cursor to be reused. No more rows can be fetched from the cursor variable or closed

Pl/sql conditional control: if statements, Pl/sql Conditional Control: IF s...

Pl/sql Conditional Control: IF statements Frequently, it is necessary to take the alternative actions depending on the circumstances. The IF statement execute a series of statem

Using limit - collection method, Using LIMIT For nested tables, that h...

Using LIMIT For nested tables, that have no maximum size, the LIMIT returns NULL. For varrays, the LIMIT returns the maximum number of elements that a varray can have (that yo

Using savepoints, Using Savepoints The scope of the savepoint is a tra...

Using Savepoints The scope of the savepoint is a transaction in which it is defined. The Savepoints defined in the major transaction are not related to the savepoints defined

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd