Atomicity and semantic normalization
This paper contrasts two different approaches to designing relational databases that are free of redundancy. The Object-Role Modeling (ORM) approach captures semantics in terms of atomic (elementary or existential) fact types, before grouping the fact types into relation schemes. Normalization by de...
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| Format: | Article |
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IGI Global
2010
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| Online Access: | http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1199/ |
| _version_ | 1848766671738634240 |
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| author | Carver, Andy Halpin, Terry |
| author_facet | Carver, Andy Halpin, Terry |
| author_sort | Carver, Andy |
| building | INTI Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This paper contrasts two different approaches to designing relational databases that are free of redundancy. The Object-Role Modeling (ORM) approach captures semantics in terms of atomic (elementary or existential) fact types, before grouping the fact types into relation schemes. Normalization by decomposition instead focuses on “non0loss decomposition” to various, and progressively more refined, “normal forms”. Traditionally, non0loss decomposition of a relation requires decomposition into smaller relations that, upon natural join, yield the exact original population. Non-loss decomposition of a table scheme (or relation variable) requires that the decomposition of all possible populations of the relation scheme is reversible in this way. This paper shows that the dependency requirement for “all possible populations” is too restrictive for definitions of multi-valued and join dependencies over relation schemes. By exploiting ORM modeling heuristics, the authors offer new definitions of these data dependencies and non-loss decomposition, to enable these concepts to be addressed at a truly semantic level. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:54:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | intimal-1199 |
| institution | INTI International University |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:54:51Z |
| publishDate | 2010 |
| publisher | IGI Global |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | intimal-11992018-10-22T01:53:55Z http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1199/ Atomicity and semantic normalization Carver, Andy Halpin, Terry QA76 Computer software This paper contrasts two different approaches to designing relational databases that are free of redundancy. The Object-Role Modeling (ORM) approach captures semantics in terms of atomic (elementary or existential) fact types, before grouping the fact types into relation schemes. Normalization by decomposition instead focuses on “non0loss decomposition” to various, and progressively more refined, “normal forms”. Traditionally, non0loss decomposition of a relation requires decomposition into smaller relations that, upon natural join, yield the exact original population. Non-loss decomposition of a table scheme (or relation variable) requires that the decomposition of all possible populations of the relation scheme is reversible in this way. This paper shows that the dependency requirement for “all possible populations” is too restrictive for definitions of multi-valued and join dependencies over relation schemes. By exploiting ORM modeling heuristics, the authors offer new definitions of these data dependencies and non-loss decomposition, to enable these concepts to be addressed at a truly semantic level. IGI Global 2010 Article PeerReviewed Carver, Andy and Halpin, Terry (2010) Atomicity and semantic normalization. International Journal of Information System Modeling and Design (IJISMD), 1 (2). ISSN 1947-8186 https://www.igi-global.com/article/atomicity-semantic-normalization/43607 10.4018/jismd.2010040102 |
| spellingShingle | QA76 Computer software Carver, Andy Halpin, Terry Atomicity and semantic normalization |
| title | Atomicity and semantic normalization |
| title_full | Atomicity and semantic normalization |
| title_fullStr | Atomicity and semantic normalization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Atomicity and semantic normalization |
| title_short | Atomicity and semantic normalization |
| title_sort | atomicity and semantic normalization |
| topic | QA76 Computer software |
| url | http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1199/ http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1199/ http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1199/ |