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

Effects of null in aggregate operator - sql, Effects of NULL in Aggregate O...

Effects of NULL in Aggregate Operator - SQL Let aggop(x) be an invocation of some aggregate operator aggop in SQL, where x is an expression (usually an open expression) to be

Package utl file in pl/sql, UTL_FILE: The Package UTL_FILE permits you...

UTL_FILE: The Package UTL_FILE permits your PL/SQL programs to read & write operating system (OS) text files. It gives a restricted version of the standard OS stream file I/O,

Sequential control - pl/sql, Sequential Control Dissimilar to the IF and ...

Sequential Control Dissimilar to the IF and LOOP statements, the GOTO and NULL statements are not important to the PL/SQL programming. The configuration of PL/SQL is such that th

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

Cursor variables in pl sql, Cursor Variables:   To execute the multi-...

Cursor Variables:   To execute the multi-row query, the Oracle opens an unnamed work region that stores the processing information. You can use an explicit cursor that names

Sql operators, SQL Operators The PL/SQL uses all the SQL set, compariso...

SQL Operators The PL/SQL uses all the SQL set, comparison, and row operators in the SQL statements. This part briefly describes some of these operators.  1. Comparison Opera

Cursor for loops, Cursor FOR Loops In most cases that need an explicit ...

Cursor FOR Loops In most cases that need an explicit cursor, you can simplify the coding by using a cursor FOR loop rather of the OPEN, FETCH, and CLOSE statements. A cursor FO

Closing a cursor variable, Closing a Cursor Variable The CLOSE stateme...

Closing a Cursor Variable The CLOSE statement disables the cursor variable. After that, the related result set is undefined. The syntax for the same is as shown below: CLOS

Indeterminacy in sql, Indeterminacy in SQL Some SQL expressions are ac...

Indeterminacy in SQL Some SQL expressions are actually not function invocations at all in the mathematical sense, being indeterminate-invocations operating on identical input

Cursors - syntax, Cursors   To execute the multi-row query, the Oracle...

Cursors   To execute the multi-row query, the Oracle opens an unnamed work region which stores the processing information. The cursor names the work region, access the informa

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