functional database definition of functional database in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

(database, language)

functional database - A database which uses a functional language as its query language.

Databases would seem to be an inappropriate application for functional languages since, a purely functional language would have to return a new copy of the entire database every time (part of) it was updated. To be practically scalable, the update mechanism must clearly be destructive rather than functional; however it is quite feasible for the query language to be purely functional so long as the database is considered as an argument.

One approach to the update problem would use a monad to encapsulate database access and ensure it was single threaded. Alternative approaches have been suggested by Trinder, who suggests non-destructive updating with shared data structures, and Sutton who uses a variant of a Phil Wadler's linear type system.

There are two main classes of functional database languages. The first is based upon Backus' FP language, of which FQL is probably the best known example. Adaplan is a more recent language which falls into this category.

More recently, people have been working on languages which are syntactically very similar to modern functional programming languages, but which also provide all of the features of a database language, e.g. bulk data structures which can be incrementally updated, type systems which can be incrementally updated, and all data persisting in a database. Examples are PFL [Poulovassilis&Small, VLDB-91], and Machiavelli [Ohori et al, ACM SIGMOD Conference, 1998].

Query optimisation is very important for database languages in general and the referential transparency of functional languages allows optimisations which would be harder to verify in presence of side-effects.

[Trinder, P., "Referentially transparent database languages", 1989 Glasgow Workshop on Functional programming]

[Breazu-Tannen et al., DBPL-91].

[Poulovassilis, VLDB-94].

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No references found	The task of planning and setting up a workable database proved to be time consuming and format sensitive, but the final product was a functional database. Carrier association reporting system by Willis, Fran; Freeman, Cheryl L. / Army Logistician While these systems are appropriate for command and control functions, they cannot process and manipulate obstacle information as part of a functional database to the required level of detail. Tools of war by Birdwell, Trey; Klemunes, John A., Jr. / Engineer: The Professional Bulletin for Army Engineers The structure of the book is such that the reader will be creating handy-looking forms and views a long time before he will be creating fully functional databases. REVIEW: Lotus Notes and Domino 6 Development by Worldwide Computer Products News	function failure safety Function Generator Function Graph Language function hole function inlining function key function library function multiplier function overloading Function Point Analysis function prototype Function Space function switch function table function unit Function, Set function-evaluation routine Functional Functional Analysis Functional analysis and modeling functional analysis diagram functional anatomy functional application functional bombing functional constraint functional database functional decomposition functional dependency functional design Functional Determinant functional diagram functional disorder functional electrical stimulation Functional Electronics Functional Equation functional error recovery functional failure functional forms analysis chart functional generator functional group functional interleaving functional language functional multiplier functional paralysis functional program functional programming functional programming language Functional Psychology functional requirement functional requirements functional residual capacity	Functional Configuration Identification Functional Configuration Management System functional congestion Functional Connectivity Mapped with MR functional constraint functional contracture Functional Contrast-to-Noise Ratio Functional Control Audit Functional Control Document Functional Control Program Functional Coordinating Group Functional Cost Account Functional Cost Hour Report Functional currency Functional cyst functional damage assessment Functional Data Administrator Functional data analysis Functional Data Coordinator Functional Data Definition Language Functional Data Element Functional Data Exchange Architecture Functional Data Manager Functional Data Model functional database Functional Database Managers functional deafness functional deafness functional deafness functional deafness Functional Decision Diagram Functional decomposition Functional decomposition Functional Decomposition Design Functional Decomposition Diagram Functional Degrees of Freedom Functional dependencies Functional dependency Functional dependency Functional Dependency Gate Functional Description Functional Description & Allocation Functional Description Document Functional Description of the Battlefield Functional Description Requirements Specification Functional design Functional Design and Requirements Analysis Functional Design Criterion Functional Design Document Functional Design Requirement Functional Design Specification Functional determinant Functional Development Article Functional Device Object

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No references found

The task of planning and setting up a workable database proved to be time consuming and format sensitive, but the final product was a functional database.

Carrier association reporting system by Willis, Fran; Freeman, Cheryl L. / Army Logistician

While these systems are appropriate for command and control functions, they cannot process and manipulate obstacle information as part of a functional database to the required level of detail.

Tools of war by Birdwell, Trey; Klemunes, John A., Jr. / Engineer: The Professional Bulletin for Army Engineers

The structure of the book is such that the reader will be creating handy-looking forms and views a long time before he will be creating fully functional databases.

REVIEW: Lotus Notes and Domino 6 Development by Worldwide Computer Products News

function failure safety

Function Generator

Function Graph Language

Function Point Analysis

function prototype