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

Collections in pl sql, Collections:   The collection is an ordered gr...

Collections:   The collection is an ordered group of elements, all of similar type (for illustration, the grades for a class of students). Each element has an exclusive subsc

Create Tables, Hi there, I have the final part of a submission to do, it ...

Hi there, I have the final part of a submission to do, it is a demonstration that takes place tomorrow. I do not have to use previous information, but i have resources that sho

Defining records, Defining and Declaring Records To create records, yo...

Defining and Declaring Records To create records, you have to define a RECORD type, and then declare records of that type. You may also define RECORD types in the declarative

Keyword & parameter description - exceptions, Keyword & Parameter Descripti...

Keyword & Parameter Description: WHEN: This keyword introduces the exception handler. You can have many exceptions execute the similar sequence of the statements by follo

Anatomy of a table, Anatomy of a Table: Figure shows the terminology u...

Anatomy of a Table: Figure shows the terminology used in SQL to refer to parts of the structure of a table. As you can see, SQL has no official terms for its counterpa

Unnest operator in sql, UNNEST operator in SQL The inverse operator of...

UNNEST operator in SQL The inverse operator of GROUP is UNGROUP. SQL has an operator, UNNEST, that can be used for similar purposes, but its method of invocation is somewhat p

Naming conventions-pl/sql, Naming Conventions The similar naming conventi...

Naming Conventions The similar naming conventions apply to all PL/SQL program items and units including the variables, cursors, constants, cursor variables, procedures, exception

Primary key, PRIMARY KEY: PRIMARY KEY  indicates that the table is sub...

PRIMARY KEY: PRIMARY KEY  indicates that the table is subject to a key constraint, in this case declaring that no two rows in the table assigned to ENROLMENT can ever have the

Using aliases-declarations in sql, Using Aliases The Select-list items f...

Using Aliases The Select-list items fetched from a cursor related with the %ROWTYPE should have simple names or, if they are expressions, should have aliases. In the example bel

Biconditional - sql, Biconditional - SQL The biconditional p ↔ q can b...

Biconditional - SQL The biconditional p ↔ q can be expressed in Tutorial D by p = q and the same is true of SQL. The question then arises as to whether, in SQL, p = q is equiv

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