Table of Contents for

NoSQL and SQL Data Modeling: Bringing Together Data, Semantics, and Software

Glossary

Definitions marked (Merriam-Webster) are taken from Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/.

aggregation : combining two or more objects in such a way that they retain their integrity, but it is difficult or impossible to separate them again (like a layer cake)

analytics : information derived from other information or data

array : a collection of some integral number of variables or objects of the same type or class

assembly : combining two or more objects in such a way that they retain their integrity, and it is relatively easy to separate them again (like an engine)

attribute : an inherent characteristic (Merriam-Webster); see also data attribute

blending : combining two or more objects in such a way that they lose their integrity (like eggs, flour, milk, and sugar in a cake)

class : a description of the structural and/or behavioral characteristics of potential or actual objects

collection : a set of objects having a single owner

component : a constituent part (Merriam-Webster)

composite : made up of distinct parts (Merriam-Webster)

composite type : a type that designates a set whose members have components

computer object : a stateful material object whose state can be read and/or modified by the execution of computer instructions

concept : something conceived in the mind : thought, notion (Merriam-Webster)

conceptual : relating to a concept or concepts

container : an object that can contain other objects (like an egg carton)

contents : the objects inside a container (like the eggs in an egg carton)

data : plural of datum

data attribute : a <name, type> pair. The name gives the role of a value of the given type in the context of a tuple scheme, relation scheme, or composite type. See also attribute.

data attribute value : a <name, type, value> triple

data independence : the ability to re-order data without losing any information

datum : that which is intended to be given to a predicate as a value for one of its variables

encapsulate : to authorize only a certain set of routines (called methods of the class) to operate on the components of objects of a class

entity : something that has separate and distinct existence and objective or conceptual reality (Merriam-Webster)

extending class (or type) : a class (or type) that is defined in terms of another class (or type), called a base class (or type), by defining components and/or methods to what are already available in the base class (or type)

extension : the addition of components to a base class or type; its inverse is projection

fact : a proposition that is true or believed to be true

fact type : see relationship type

hardware object : a computer object which is part of the physical composition of a computer

identifier : any value that represents exactly one member of a designated set

inclusion relationship : a relationship between types, where the supertype is defined as a union of its subtypes; inverse of restriction relationship

information : a collection of propositions

insight : information derived from analytics

juxtaposition : arranging objects in a fixed spatial relationship without connecting them (like a place setting)

logical predicate : a statement containing variables which, when the variables are bound, yields a proposition

logical record type : a composite type that is intended to be used as the type of data records stored singly or in a collection of records

measure : a composite type consisting of a number and a type of thing being measured or counted

method : a routine authorized to operate on the components of software objects of the class of which it is a part

object : something material that may be perceived by the senses (Merriam-Webster)

predicate : short for logical predicate

projection : the removal of components from a base class or type; its inverse is extension

proposition : an expression in language or signs of something that can be believed, doubted, or denied or is either true or false (Merriam-Webster)

relation : a relation value

relationship type : a logical predicate

relation scheme : the specification of the data attributes of a relation, together with other information such as keys and other constraints on a relation value as a whole

relation value : a set of tuple values all having the same tuple scheme; informally, a table without significance to the order of or repetition of the values of its rows

relation variable : a symbol which can be bound to a relation value

relationship : a proposition concerning two or more entities

relationship type : a logical predicate

restriction relationship : a relationship between two types, where one type, called the subtype, is defined in terms of a restriction on members of the set designated by the other type, called the supertype; inverse of inclusion relationship

semi-structured data : collections of data items stored in a way that supports but does not enforce a structure

simple type : a type that designates a set whose members have no components

software object : an object composed of hardware objects and/or other software objects by exclusively authorizing only certain routines to access the component objects

state : the physical condition of an object

stateful : having more than one state

stateless : having only one state

structured data : collections of data items stored in a database that imposes a strict structure on that data

subtype : something that designates a subset of the set designated by another type, called the supertype

tuple : a tuple value

tuple scheme : the specification of the data attributes of a tuple, together with any constraints referencing a tuple value as a whole

tuple value : a set of data attribute values

tuple variable : a symbol which can be bound to a tuple value

type : something that designates a set

unstructured data : data representing text, audio, video or other data which have no structure imposed on what they represent

value : a concept that is fully specified by a symbol for the concept; also, a symbol for such a concept