The Relational Model and Relational Algebra: Nothing Is So Practical As A Good Theory

The Relational Model
and Relational Algebra
Nothing is so practical as a good theory

Kurt Lewin, 1945
The relational model
Overcame shortcomings of earlier

database models
Has a strong theoretical base
Codd was the major developer
Problems with other models
Programmers worked at a low level of

detail
No commands for multiple record
processing
Little support for ad hoc querying by
users
Objectives of relational
model research
Data independence
Logical and physical models are separate
Communicability
A simple model understood by
programmers and users
Set-processing
Increase programmer productivity
Relational model concepts
Data structures
Integrity rules
Operators
Data structures
Domain
A set of values all of the same data type
All the legal values of an attribute
Defines what comparisons are legal
Only attributes from the same domain
should be compared
The domain
concept is rarely
implemented
Data structures
Relations
A table of n columns and m rows
A relation’s cardinality is its number of rows
A relation’s degrees is its number of columns
A relational database is a collection of
relations
No explicit linkages between tables
Cardinality is
easy to change
but not degrees
Structures
Primary key
A unique identifier of a row in a relation
Can be composite
Candidate key
An attribute that could be a primary key
Alternate key
A candidate key that is not selected as the primary key
Foreign key
An attribute of a relation that is the primary key of a relation
Can be composite
Integrity rules
Entity integrity
No component of the primary key of a
relation can be null
Each row in a relation is uniquely identified
Referential integrity
A database must not contain any
unmatched foreign key values
For every foreign key there is a
corresponding primary key
Operations
Relational algebra has 8 operators

Restrict
Project
Product
Union
Intersect
Difference
Join
Divide
Restrict
Extracts rows from a single relation
A
W X Y Z
Project
Extracts columns from a single relation
A
W X Y Z
Product
Creates a new relation from all possible

combinations of rows in two other relations
A B
V W X Y Z
v1 w1 x1 y1 z1
v2 w2 x2 y2 z2
v3 w3
A TIMES B
V W X Y Z
v1 w1 x1 y1 z1
v1 w1 x2 y2 z2
v2 w2 x1 y1 z1
v2 w2 x2 y2 z2
v3 w3 x1 y1 z1
v3 w3 x2 y2 z2
Union
Creates a new relation containing rows appearing in
one or both relations
Duplicate rows are automatically eliminated
Relations must be union compatible
A A UNION B
X Y B X Y
x1 y1 X Y x1 y1
x2 y2 x2 y2 x2 y2
x3 y3 x4 y4 x3 y3
x4 y4
Intersect
Creates a new relation containing rows
appearing in both relations
A
X Y B
A INTERSECT B
x1 y1 X Y
x2 y2 x2 y2 X Y
x3 y3 x4 y4 x2 y2
Difference
Creates a relation containing rows in

the first relation but not in the second
A B A MINUS B
X Y X Y X Y
x1 y1 x2 y2 x1 y1
x2 y2 x4 y4 x3 y3
x3 y3
Join
Creates a new relation from all combinations of
rows satisfying the join condition
A join B where W = Z
A B
V W X Y Z
v1 wz1 x1 y1 wz1
v2 wz2 x2 y2 wz3
v3 wz3
A EQUIJOIN B
V W X Y Z
v1 wz1 x1 y1 wz1
v3 wz3 x2 y2 wz3
Divide
Is there a value in the X column of A (e.g., x1) that has a value in
the Y column of A for every value of y in the Y column of B?
A B
X Y Y
x1 y1 y1
x1 y2 y2
x1 y3
x2 y1
x2 y3
A DIVIDE B
x1
A primitive set of operators
Only five operators are required
Restrict
Project
Product
Union
Difference
Relational algebra and SQL
Relational algebra is a standard for
judging a data retrieval language
Relational algebra SQL
Restrict A whe r e SELECT * FROM A
c ondi t i on WHERE c ondi t i on
Project A [ X] SELECT X FROM A
Product A t i me s B SELECT * FROM A, B
Union A uni on B SELECT * FROM A UNI ON SELECT *
FROM B
Difference A mi nus B SELECT * FROM A
WHERE NOT EXI STS
( SELECT * FROM B WHERE
A. X = B. X AND A. Y = B. Y AND …) 1
1. Essentially, where all columns of A are equal to all columns of B

A complete relational database
A fully relational database supports

structures (domains and relations)
integrity rules
a manipulation language
Most commercial systems are not fully relational
because they do not support domains and
integrity rules
Classified as relationally complete
The word “relational” is sometimes used too
freely
Codd’s commandments
1. The information rule

All data must appear to be stored as values in a table
2. The guaranteed access rule
Every value in a database must be addressable by
specifying its table name, column name, and the primary
key of the row in which it is stored
3. Systematic treatment of null values
There must be a distinct representation for unknown or
inappropriate data
4. Active on-line catalog on the relational model
There should be an on-line catalog that describes the
relational model
5. The comprehensive data sublanguage rule

There must be a relational language that supports data definition,
data manipulation, security and integrity constraints, and
transaction processing operations
6. The view updating rule
The DBMS must be able to update any view that is theoretically
updateable
7. High-level insert, update, and delete
The system must support set-at-a-time operations
8. Physical data independence
Changes to storage representation or access methods will not affect
application programs
9. Logical data independence

Information preserving changes to base tables will not affect
application programs
10. Integrity independence
Integrity constraints should be part of a database's definition
rather than embedded within application programs
It must be possible to change integrity constraints without
affecting any existing application programs
11. Distribution independence
Introduction of a distributed DBMS or redistributing existing
distributed data should have no impact on existing applications
12. The nonsubversion rule
It must not be possible to use a record-at-a-time interface to
subvert security or integrity constraints
Codd’s Rule 0
A relational DBMS must be able to

manage databases entirely through its
relational capacities
A DBMS is either totally relational or it
is not relational
Key points
The relational model is theoretically
grounded and practically relevant
Relational algebra is the foundation of
SQL
A relational DBMS should satisfy a
range of requirements to be fully
relational

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What are the objectives of the relational model research?

What are the main data structures in the relational model?

The Relational Model

and Relational Algebra

Nothing is so practical as a good theory

Overcame shortcomings of earlier

Programmers worked at a low level of

Relational algebra has 8 operators

Creates a new relation from all possible

Creates a relation containing rows in

1. Essentially, where all columns of A are equal to all columns of B

A fully relational database supports

1. The information rule

5. The comprehensive data sublanguage rule

9. Logical data independence

A relational DBMS must be able to

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