Re: infinite result sets?

From: Bob Badour <bbadour_at_golden.net>
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004 11:57:14 -0500
Message-ID: <R-OdnYzwFoIEzrPdRVn-jA@golden.net>

"Graeme Newlands" <graeme_at_inorbit.com> wrote in message news:aecd37bf.0402140841.49e8a115_at_posting.google.com...
> Just a random thought over the weekend ...
>
> Is there any join operation that could possibly return an infinite
> result set in set theory?

Yes, assuming at least one operand is an infinite set.

> Is this operation definable in SQL?

Actual dbmses are finite; thus all operands are finite. However, one could achieve a similar effect by evaluating the cartesian product of two very large finite tables. By exceeding the capacity of the system, the large finite result might just as well be infinite. Received on Sat Feb 14 2004 - 10:57:14 CST