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

Using invoker rights in pl sql, Using Invoker Rights: By default, the ...

Using Invoker Rights: By default, the stored procedure executes with the privileges of its definer, not its invoker. These procedures are bound to the schema in which they inh

Pl sql code review, PL SQL Code Review HEADER ELEMENTS File Name ...

PL SQL Code Review HEADER ELEMENTS File Name Clear, meaningful and descriptive about main objective of the file. Multiple words are joined using underscores which adh

Write a stored procedure, a. Create a table odetails_new. It has all the a...

a. Create a table odetails_new. It has all the attributes of odetails and an additional column called cost, whose values are the product of the quantity and price of the part bein

Using for update, Using FOR UPDATE If you declare a cursor which will ...

Using FOR UPDATE If you declare a cursor which will be referenced in the CURRENT OF clause of an UPDATE or DELETE statement, you should use the FOR UPDATE clause to obtain an

Structure of an object type in pl/sql, Structure of an Object Type: Si...

Structure of an Object Type: Similar to package, an object type has 2 parts: the specification and the body. The specification is the interface to your applications; it declar

Important distinctions, Important Distinctions The list of important d...

Important Distinctions The list of important distinctions are given below: Value versus variable Syntax versus semantics Variable versus variable reference

Parameter and keyword description - select into statement, Parameter and Ke...

Parameter and Keyword Description: select_item: This select_item is a value returned by the SELECT statement, and then assigned to the equivalent variable or field in the

Execute immediate statement - syntax, EXECUTE IMMEDIATE Statement   Th...

EXECUTE IMMEDIATE Statement   The EXECUTE IMMEDIATE statement prepare (parses) and instantly executes a dynamic SQL statement or an anonymous PL/SQL block. Syntax:

Keyword & parameter description - exception_init pragma, Keyword & Paramete...

Keyword & Parameter Description: PRAGMA: These keywords signify that the statement is a pragma (i.e. compiler directive). The Pragmas are processed at the compile time, n

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