Re: cdt glossary 0.1.1 [NULL]

From: mountain man <hobbit_at_southern_seaweed.com.op>
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 02:43:18 GMT
Message-ID: <aHuAh.824$4c6.772@news-server.bigpond.net.au>

"mAsterdam" <mAsterdam_at_vrijdag.org> wrote in message news:45cdb22a$0$334$e4fe514c_at_news.xs4all.nl...

> mountain man quoted:

>>> [NULL]
>>> Roughly: a special marker that can be put in a place
>>> inside a data structure where an actual value is expected.
>>> Precisely what that marker means varies and there are at
>>> least three possibilities that are sometimes assumed:
>>>
>>> (1) "Unknown value" This means that on the place of the marker
>>> there should actually be a value but this value is not known
>>> at the present time. For example, if a 'name' field in a tuple
>>> describing a person is 'null' then this person will have a
>>> name but we don't know it.
>>>
>>> (2) "Absent value" This means that the property that is
>>> described by the value in question is simply not defined.
>>> For example, if the 'shipping-date' field in a tuple
>>> describing an order is 'null' then the order was
>>> not shipped yet.
>>>
>>> (3) "Whatever SQL says it means" The exact meaning is hard to
>>> summarize briefly, but is a mixture of the previous two
>>> interpretations and involves a value with three truth-values
>>> ('true', 'false' and 'unknown').
>>>
>>>
>>> Common usage:
>>>
>>> - Confusion arises when people use terms like "null value",
>>> a paradox to some, a contradictio in terminis to others.
>>>
>>> - Confusion arises due to the fact that nullness (the absence
>>> of value) is often represented on computers by the number 0.
>>> (Obviously, 0 is not null.)
>>>
>>> - In some contexts, 'null' and 'nil' mean the same thing;
>>> in others, they do not.

>>

<<<<=============

>> Everything looks good to this point.
>> But I cant understand the meaning of the
>> following sentence ....

>>> In databases traditionally NULL is used and and opposed. ***
>>> If you want to go into this, please first search for
>>> mu NIL void NULL undef, 2VL 3VL.

>>
>> What does the first sentence mean?
>
> Could you elaborate? I really have difficulty seeing what might
> not be understood here - maybe the phrasing could be improved a little: 
> "In the context of databases traditionally ..." ?

I thought the entry for NULL was good up to point above <<<===

Does this following sentence then read as follows:

"In the context of databases traditionally NULL is used and opposed."?

Just seeking clarification.

> I prefer not to participate in opening this NULL can of worms again.
> NULL was discussed several times in c.d.t.; this is what came out. 
> However, if subsequent discussion will lead to someone
> coming up with a better text (or better yet a reference)
> for the complete NULL entry, I'll be happy to copy & replace it.

I agree.

>> BTW, this FAQ has been greatly expanded since the last time
>> I read it, and represents a valuable resource --- ONYA.
>> Well done.
>
> Thank you, on behalf of everybody who has contributed.
> (I don't remember exactly - but that includes you, no?
> -- not feeling like mining the archives right now)
>
> What does ONYA stand for?
> http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/ONYA
> says: "Oh No, You Again?" - I suspect I am missing
> a joke/subtlety  for native English speakers here.

Its an Australian abbreviation for "Good On You". Received on Tue Feb 13 2007 - 20:43:18 CST