Re: Definition of 'Relational' Database

vk02720_at_my-deja.com (vk02720) wrote in message news:<4d814faa.0209081213.26f098a0_at_posting.google.com>...
> unknown <nobody_at_blackhole.nospam.com> wrote in message news:<pan.2002.09.07.21.36.00.185416.1835_at_blackhole.nospam.com>...
> > On Sat, 07 Sep 2002 21:21:53 +0200, vk02720 wrote:
> >
> > > Why exactly is a Relational DBMS called "Relational" ?
> > >
> > > TIA
> >
> > A not-too-long-winded answer would be something along these lines:
> >
> > In an RDBMS the tables (that hold data as opposed to the database that
> > holds tables) often have a certain relationship. If you look at an
> > old-fashioned entity relationship diagram you can easily spot the
> > relation by looking at how the tables have been wired together using
> > keys.
>
>
> "Relationships" amongst entities are there in other databases as well
> - The Hierarchical model and the Network model. They are just
> implemented differently - by using 'pointers' in one entity pointing
> to the other entity.

I would suggest works by Fabian Pascal or C.J. Date for a detailed answer to your question. http://www.firstsql.com/dbdebunk/

Paul Received on Mon Sep 09 2002 - 22:57:54 CEST