Domain calculus

In computer science, domain relational calculus is a calculus that was introduced by Edgar F. Codd as part of the relational model in order to give a declarative database query language for this data model.

A DRC Query has the form:

< X1,X2,....,Xn > | p( < X1,X2,....,Xn > )

where each Xi is either a domain variable or constant, and p(<X1, X2, ...., Xn>) denotes a DRC Formula. The result of the query is set of tuples Xi to Xn which makes the DRC formula true.

This language uses the same operators as tuple calculus; Logicial operators ∧ (and), ∨ (or) and ¬ (not), and we can use the existential quantifier (∃) and the universal quantifier (∀) to bind the variables.

Here are examples of DRC:

Let's take A,B1,C to mean Rank, Name, ID and D,E,F to mean Name, DeptName, ID

Find all Captains of the Enterprise:

In this example, A,B1,C is the result set and a set in the table Enterprise.


Find Names of Enterprise crewmembers who are in Stellar Cartography:

In this example, we're only looking for the name, so <B1> denotes the column Name. F = C is a requirement, because we need to find Enterprise Crewmembers AND they are in the Stellar Cartography Department.

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See also: Domain calculus, Computer science, Data model, Edgar F. Codd, Query language, Relational model, Tuple calculus