Gio Wiederhold: Database Design, 3rd Edition, Appendix 1

© 1995, 1997 (Copyright Notice) by Gio Wiederhold, re-assigned by McGraw-Hill 7 April 1995 from their 1988 copyright.

Appendix A, Draft 1, 30 June 1997.


This Appendix will require the use of a competent HTML browser, that supports TeX formulas, as IBM's techplorer.

Index for Alternate Terminology

Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
Go to, let us go down, and confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

[Genesis 11, 6 to 7]

This list is intended to provide assistance when reading about files and databases. Since there is a great deal of variation of meaning of the terms used in the literature, it is impossible to make this index truly comprehensive. The appropriateness of the provided cross references has to be verified in each case by careful reading of the source material and the corresponding section of this book. Often there will be no exact match and the concept or technique described in a reference will have to be circumscribed in a few sentences. Whenever references are used to present material for classroom discussion or evaluation, then it is essential to use the standard terminology which has been introduced in this book to avoid misunderstandings and the associated waste of time.
When needed, a [reference] to the bibliography is included.

Term Found in the LiteratureTerm Used Herenotes|
A-strings DIAMattribute column |
absolutesessential data or essential links |
abuseviolation of protection |
acceptget currency |
access by attributeindexed access |
access controlprotection of privacy |
access methodfile organization |
actual datadata derived on-entry |
additions filetransaction file |
algebraic languageprocedural language |
APLAssociative Programming Language[Dodd:66]|
appendrecordsextend a file |
area CODASYLsubset of a database |
assisted sequentialsequential with blocking and deblocking |
associative processes (software)search for records satisfying a key, especially by key-to-address transformations |
attributeattribute name |
audit trailtransaction logging |
automatically derived datadata derived on access |
AV pairsattribute name-value pairs |
AVL treesdynamically balanced binary trees |
bandset of adjoining tracks, single track |
batch-updatereorganization |
BCH codeBose-Chaudhuri code |
BEING-USEDSOCRATE current |
binbucket in direct access |
BOM or B/Mbill of materials |
breakpointcheckpoint |
brothersibling |
bulk updatebatch update |
bulk storagesecondary, disk storage |
bunchingclustering |
c-list entrycapability |
calculated record IDSdirect access |
calculus-based languagenon-procedural language |
candidate keysome key which key identifies a record uniquely |
cardinalitynumber of tuples or records |
cascading indexmultiple level index |
cellular file organizationa file distributed over multiple units to reduce the load per unit |
chainedlinked records |
chained filesring structures |
characteristic relationshipproperty relationship |
clear text (cryptography)plain text |
clustered indexindex-sequential index |
code bookschema |
combined indexesmultiple indexes |
commandprogram instruction for a channel unit |
compactionabbreviation, compression |
component SYSTEM 2000, STAFattribute |
compressed indexabbreviated index |
conflictcollision |
connectlink |
consecutive filessequential files |
content addressabilityassociative or indexed access |
control area IBM-VSAMportion |
control block IBM-VSAMparameter area |
control interval IBM-VSAMtrain |
coordinate indexmultiway index |
copy-on-write TENEXcreate file from after images |
core storageprimary storage |
correlation variabletuple variable or TID |
cost incrementjump |
count areablock identifying area |
creator SOCRATEdatabase schema interpreter |
criteriasearch key value |
cross indexesindexed files |
CRTdisplay terminals |
cursorspointers, users of unreliable systems |
DASDdisk pack drive, magnetic drum, etc. |
datagoal |
data aggregategroup of records |
databaseeither file contents or database system, or anything in between |
database IMSand other hierarchical sustemsfile |
database descriptionsschema |
data cellstripfile |
data-definition languageschema language |
data dictionaryschema |
data-exchange areabuffer pool |
data itemitem |
datalogicalfile structure model |
data model definitionschema |
data processing cardHollerith card |
data setIBMfile |
data sublanguagedata manipulation language |
data submodelsubschema |
DB/DCdatabase and data communication |
DDLschema language |
DD/DSschema |
deferred updatebatch update |
degree of a relationnumber of domains |
demand datadata derived on access |
dense indexexhaustive index |
dequeuerelease a claim |
descriptorskeys |
detail filetransaction file |
detail recordrecord on a lower hierarchical level |
determinantkey |
direct access storage devicedisk unit, strip file, etc. |
direct reference IDSblock pointer |
directoryschema, file description, or index |
disk filesee disk pack drive |
domain (Codd)attribute type |
domains of accessorscliques |
economic analysiscost-benefit analysis |
e-messagetuple or record |
encipheringcipher encoding |
economic analysiscost-benefit analysis |
enqueueclaim |
entity descriptionschema |
entity information algebramatrix of all entities and attributes |
entity nameruling part of tuple |
entity name setruling part of (independent) relation |
entity name set nameattribute |
entriesrecords |
entry-sequenced data set IBM-VSAMdirect access file |
entry variabletuple variable |
E-string DIAMfile |
eventuality conditionhibernation |
executiveoperating system |
exclusionclaim |
exclusive readclaim for later rewrite and release |
exclusive updateclaim for immediate write |
executiveoperating system |
exitescape procedure, database procedure |
extent IBMportion, area as in CODASYL |
fact ANSIbinary relationship |
fascicleset of pages or blocks |
FCFS pollingFIFO |
fieldsitems or attributes of records |
file(hardware)disk storage unit, etc. |
file addresspointer |
file definitionschema |
file generationloading |
file systemstorage system |
filterselection clause |
finish CODASYLclose file |
fixed-head disksdrums |
flat distributionuniform distribution |
foliodatabase |
foreign keyowning attribute |
fragmentationwaste due to portion management |
freerelease |
fully inverted filephantom file |
garbage collectionfile reorganization |
Gaussian distributionnormal distribution |
GDBMSGeneralized Database Management System |
generative methodcompiling |
getrecord reading |
groupsegment of a tuple or a record |
group Realitydirect access bucket |
hashingkey-to-address transformation |
headerdirectory |
hierarchytree |
high-speed memorycore memory |
hintsnonessential data or links |
HOL policyPRI |
home addresstrack identifying area |
IBM cardsHollerith cards |
IBM tapehalf-inch magnetic tape |
ICDBintegrated corporate database |
ID-attribute formCodd Normal Form |
immediate-access storagecore memory |
independent relationentity relation |
index pointtrack_beginpoint |
individualentity |
insert DBTG nowconnect |
intent to lockclaim |
interim fileworkspace |
internal structure SOCRATEschema |
intersection data IMSdependent part of subset or associative relation |
intervalIBM-VSAMtrain or (locking) region |
inversion of permutationsranking |
inverted fileindexed file, file sorted on another attribute type, or transposed file |
inverted listmulti-indexed |
jobapplication or task |
join dependencyconnection |
journal filetransaction log |
KATkey-to-address transformation |
keep CODASYLclaim |
keysearch argument, attribute value |
key compressionkey abbreviation |
key field on a diskblock identification field |
keypunchingindirect data entry, cards |
key-sequenced dataset IBM-VSAMindex-sequential file |
key-to-address transferdirect address |
key treeindex |
key typeattribute |
key work treemultilevel indexing |
keyed record accessindexed files |
L-string DIAMinterfile linkage |
LCFS policyLIFO |
LINC tapeDEC tape |
linetransmission line |
linerecord containing text |
linear probinglinear search in a direct file |
line number IDSrecord number |
linkpointer |
linkagepointer structure |
linked free storage listschained free portions |
linked listsrings |
listchain |
locatefetch |
location modefile access method |
logical database IMSuser's data model |
logical recordsrecords |
logical subschemaexternal schema |
$m$-to-$n$ relationshipassociation or nest of references |
magnetic card filestrip file |
maintenance of filesreorganization |
materialized recordsdata derived on access |
memorystorage |
mergeunion of two sequences |
MISmanagement information system, medical information system |
modulo-two additionexclusive-OR |
multilistindexed rings |
multiwaymulti-attribute |
nondense indexindex with block anchor points |
nonprime attribute (Codd)goal attribute exclusively |
nonsimple domain (Codd)hierarchical or tree structure |
notationcode representation |
null entryundefined data |
object relationsassociative relations |
observationattribute value |
on-demand derivationdata derived on access |
optional fieldsessential values |
out-of-place-insertionoverflow file |
output formatsdata constellatins |
overflow filetransaction file |
owner-coupled set (Codd)subsidiary ring, implemented nest |
owner recorddirectory record |
pageblock |
paged memoryvirtual memory |
partial match queriesmulti-attribute access |
partitioned filesingle level index to large record groups |
permanent blockinghibernation |
permutation indexconcordance |
persistent recordsactual data |
physical key IMSfull key, qualification and subset key |
physical recordblock |
pilingclustering |
PL/1PL/I see epigraph for Chap. 14|
plex ANSIsubset of a network |
pointer arrayindex |
potential datadata derived on access |
power of an indexfanout ratio |
predecessor pointersprior |
preprocessor for schematranslator |
primary keyruling part |
primary memorycore memory |
probingserial search |
processtask |
progressive overflowopen addressing |
propertykey value or attribute field |
protected read or update CODASYLclaim against other updates |
putrecord writing |
qualifiersattribute values |
PV (Probeer te verlagen -- Verhogen)semaphore, lock claim and release |
qualifiersattribute values |
queued accessbuffered access |
quibsbuffers |
random accessdirect access, sometimes indexed access |
random-access drivedisk pack drive |
random-access memorycore memory, disk storage |
randomizingkey-to-address transformation |
rank of a relationnumber of tuples |
ready CODASYLopen file |
realm CODASYLsubset of a database |
record IBMblock |
record IMStree instance |
record MUMPSentry |
record-control blockschema |
record identity numberunique key |
regional 1 file IBMimmediate-access file |
regional 2 file IBMdirect bucket file |
regional 3 file IBMdirect variable-length-record bucket file |
relational fileassociative relation |
remove DBTG nowdisconnect |
repeating groupsrepeating segments |
request stringingqueuing |
resolution of indexesanchorpoints |
restrictionselection |
retrieval fieldkey |
rotational delaylatency |
rotational position sensingclass 5 architecture |
SATF policySSTF |
scatter storagehashing |
schemeschema |
searchfetch |
search keyargument |
secondary access pathsmultiattribute access |
secondary indexesmultiple indexes |
secondary storagestorage or disks, etc. |
securityreliability, integrity, and protection of privacy |
sectorblock |
securityprivacy and reliability |
segmentset of pages |
segment (hardware)block or band |
segment IMSset of fields, record |
segment System Rarea as in CODASYL[A |
selectivitypartioning effectiveness |
self-indexing filedeterministic direct file |
semaphoreslocks |
sensitive segments IMSsegments selected through the PCB |
sequence set IBMlower level linked space index |
sequence maintaining hashing functionslinear key-to-address transformations |
set SOCRATEgroup |
set CODASYLlink-set |
set occurrence DBTGlink |
signalrelease of lock or claim |
sink SHAREdata user |
SIRO policyRSS |
skip sequentialindex sequential |
slotbin for direct access |
SLTF policySSTF |
source SHAREdata generator |
spawningcollection and submission for execution of a transaction |
step of a jobcomputation |
step of a programsection |
storage structurefile structure |
stratumcylinder |
structured filering structured file |
symbiontsinput-output and file processes of an operating system |
symbolic filesnamed files |
T-accessget-next |
tag(associative search)key |
tag(protection)reference capability |
taskcomputation |
taxonoricscode design |
teletypeterminal |
templateschema |
thawed access TENEXfree-read and write |
third normal formCodd normal form |
threaded listlinked records, chains, rings |
TMRtriple modular redundancy |
tombstonemarker to invalidate freed storage areas |
trailing-portion abbreviationlow order key abbreviation |
travel timeseek time |
treemultilevel index |
treeany multilevel index |
triple modular redundancyTMR |
tupleattribute name-value pair |
twins IMSsibling pair |
U-accessfetch |
unlockrelease |
unordered sequentialpile |
unthawed access TENEXaudit-read or write |
VDUdisplay terminals |
vectorbucket |
virtual datadata derived on access |
virtual goal recordsphantom files |
virtual key IMSsubset key only |
vistadatabase procedure for deriving data on entry or access |
volume of dataquantity of data |
volume table of contentsIBMtable of contents or device directory |
volume CII, IBMdisk pack, etc. |
waiting linequeue |
working setgroup of pages used together |
Zato codingmultiway indexing |