Encyclopedia

query by example

Also found in: Dictionary, Medical, Acronyms, Wikipedia.

query by example

[′kwir·ē bī ig′zam·pəl]
(computer science)
A software product used to search a data base for information having formats or ranges of values specified by English-like statements that indicate the desired results. Abbreviated QBE.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Query By Example

(database, language)
(QBE) A user-friendly query language developed by Mosh? Zloof of IBM in 1975.

http://informatik.uni-trier.de/~ley/db/indices/a-tree/z/Zloof:Mosh=eacute=_M=.html.

[Mosh? M. Zloof, "Query By Example", AFIPS NCC 1975: 431-438].

[Mosh? M. Zloof, "Query-by-Example: A Data Base Language", IBM Systems Journal 16(4): 324-343, 1977].

["QBE/OBE: A Language for Office and Business Automation", M.M. Zloof, Computer pp.13-22, May 1981].
This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

query by example

A method for describing a database query originally developed by IBM for mainframes. A replica of an empty record is displayed and the search conditions are typed in under their respective columns (fields). Although there are differences from one to another with regard to expressing complicated queries, everything is selected from a menu by the user. The program turns the visual query into the command language, such as SQL, necessary to interrogate the database. See Paradox.


Query By Example (QBE)
This query selects all Pennsylvania records that have a balance due of $5000 or more.
Copyright © 1981-2025 by The Computer Language Company Inc. All Rights reserved. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.
Mentioned in
References in periodicals archive
In contrast to a clearly defined text search, in image search, using 'query by example', the image can be annotated and interpreted in many ways.
An overview of multimedia content-based retrieval strategies
To indicate the row and column headings, go to the appropriate field in the Query by Example grid and select Group By on the Title line and Row Heading, or Column Heading, in the Crosstab line.
Cross tabulate your data
Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.