Database concepts discussed in an object oriented perspective

Abstract

The terminology in the area of databases and data models is inconsistent and inaccurate and thus often confusing. Some fundamental database concepts are described in this paper. The description of these concepts are based on general concepts related to the development of the object oriented languages SIMULA, DELTA and BETA. A database is defined as an information system providing information about a referent system (the modelled part of the world), and a data model is defined as “having an inherent structure and a set of tools and techniques used in the process of designing, constructing and manipulating model systems (in particular, databases)”. The connection between databases, DBMS and data models and other concepts related to the development and use of databases are described in a process/structure hierarchy.