Springer Introduction to Databases: From Biological to Spatio-Temporal (Texts in Computer Science)

Introduced forty years ago, relational databases proved unusually succe- ful and durable. However, relational database systems were not designed for modern applications and computers. As a result, specialized database systems now proliferate trying to capture various pieces of the database market. Database research is pulled into di?erent directions, and speci- ized database conferences are created. Yet the current chaos in databases is likely only temporary because every technology, including databases, becomes standardized over time. The history of databases shows periods of chaos followed by periods of dominant technologies. For example, in the early days of computing, users stored their data in text ?les in any format and organization they wanted. These early days were followed by information retrieval systems, which required some structure for text documents, such as a title, authors, and a publisher. The information retrieval systems were followed by database systems, which added even more structure to the data and made querying easier. In the late 1990s, the emergence of the Internet brought a period of relative chaos and interest in unstructured and “semistructured data” as it wasenvisionedthateverywebpagewouldbelikeapageinabook.However, with the growing maturity of the Internet, the interest in structured data was regained because the most popular websites are, in fact, based on databases. The question is not whether future data stores need structure but what structure they need. Review From the reviews: “Offers an introduction to modern databases. … In this well-organized book, the presentation is simple and easy to understand. As a result, students will find this introductory textbook useful. Furthermore, they will benefit from its numerous illustrative examples, exercises, and bibliographic notes. … The book offers an interesting perspective into the many specialized databases that are currently in existence--something virtually no other book on the market offers. … In short, I strongly recommend it to readers who are interested in databases.” (S. V. Nagaraj, ACM Computing Reviews, February, 2011) “A book that covers all the modern turns and directions that databases have taken in recent years. … Overall, this is a very valuable addition to the database textbook literature. The author claims that the primary audience for this book are undergraduates, but I believe that it can and will reach beyond that level of database education.” (Gottfried Vossen, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1191, 2010) From the Back Cover Developments in modern computers and applications have resulted in a shift away from relational databases into a chaotic proliferation of specialized database systems. As many of these advanced databases are unable to communicate with each other, database interoperability and data integration have become important challenges. The search for a suitable common standard for the numerous varieties of current databases has generated renewed interest in extensions of relational databases, such as constraint databases. This unique, reader-friendly textbook/reference provides a comprehensive coverage of the field of databases. Introduction to Databases reveals a deep insight into the workings of numerous database systems, enabling readers to develop complex and rewarding database applications. Students will gain hands-on experience by following the suggested exercises, and are offered the support to begin their own research projects in database systems. The theory covered is complemented by a detailed examination of specific applications from a broad range of diverse areas. The text assumes as prerequisite only basic discrete mathematics, linear algebra, and programming knowledge. Topics and features: • Provides chapter-by-chapter descriptions of eleven different types of databases, and presents the MLPQ and the DISCO database systems that implement several different ty