ORDBMS

Object-Relational Database Management Systems

A type of database management system that combines features of both relational and object-oriented database models. It extends the traditional relational database model by incorporating object-oriented concepts like objects, classes, inheritance, and polymorphism. ORDBMSs are designed to provide more flexibility in data representation and manipulation, making it easier to work with complex data types and structures.

The key features of an ORDBMS include:

1. Object-Relational Mapping: An ORDBMS allows users to map objects and their relationships to a relational database schema, enabling the storage and retrieval of object-oriented data within a relational database.
2. Complex Data Types: An ORDBMS supports complex data types, such as multimedia content, geospatial data, and user-defined types, which can be challenging to represent and manage in a traditional relational database.
3. Inheritance: An ORDBMS supports inheritance, allowing objects to inherit attributes and methods from other objects, promoting code reuse and the creation of hierarchical object structures.
4. Polymorphism: ORDBMSs support polymorphism, enabling objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass, allowing greater flexibility in data manipulation and retrieval.
5. Encapsulation: An ORDBMS allows for encapsulation of data and methods within objects, promoting data abstraction and separation of concerns.
6. SQL Extensions: ORDBMSs often extend standard Structured Query Language (SQL) with additional features to support object-relational concepts, making it possible to query and manipulate object-oriented data using familiar SQL syntax.

Some popular ORDBMSs include:

• PostgreSQL: An open-source relational database that supports object-relational features, such as user-defined types, inheritance, and custom functions.
• Oracle Database: A commercial relational database that offers object-relational capabilities, such as object types, object views, and object-oriented PL/SQL.

ORDBMSs are well-suited for applications that require both the flexibility of object-oriented data modeling and the robustness and scalability of relational databases. They can be particularly useful in scenarios where complex data structures and relationships need to be represented, stored, and managed efficiently.

• Abbreviation: ORDBMS