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Chapter 11

Object-Oriented Databases

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Management, Fifth Edition, Rob and Coronel
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In this chapter, you will learn:

• What basic concepts govern OO systems
• What effect OO concepts are likely to have on
data modeling and design
• How OO features are related to the more
traditional relational and E-R models
• What the basic features of an OO database
management system (OODBMS) are
• About the advantages and disadvantages of
OODBMSs

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Object Orientation
• Object Orientation
– Set of design and development principles
– Based on autonomous computer structures
known as objects
• OO Contribution areas
– Programming Languages
– Graphical User Interfaces
– Databases
– Design
– Operating Systems

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Evolution of OO Concepts
• Concepts stem from object-oriented programming
languages (OOPLs)
– Ada, ALGOL, LISP, SIMULA
• OOPLs goals
– Easy-to-use development environment
– Powerful modeling tools for development
– Decrease in development time
– Make reusable code
• OO Attributes
– Data set not passive
– Data and procedures bound together
– Objects can act on self

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OO Concepts: Objects
• Abstract representation of a real-world entity
– Unique identity
– Embedded properties
– Ability to interact with other objects and self
• OID
– Unique to object
– Not a primary key
• Attributes
– Called instance variables
– Domain
• Object state
– Object values at any given time

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OO Concepts: Objects (con’t.)

• Methods
– Code that performs operation on object’s data
– Has name and body
• Messages
– Invokes method
– Sent to object
• Classes
– Collection of similar objects
– Shares attributes and structure
• Protocol
– Represents object’s public aspect

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OO Concepts: Objects (con’t.)

• Class hierarchy
– Code that performs operation on object’s data
– Has name and body

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Object Characteristics

Figure 11.7

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Class Hierarchy
• Superclass
• Subclass
• Class lattice

Figure 11.8
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Inheritance
• Ability of object to inherit the data structure and
behavior of classes above it
• Single inheritance
– Class has one immediate superclass

Figure 11.9

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Inheritance (con’t.)
• Multiple
– Class has more than one immediate superclass

Figure 11.10

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Method Overriding
• Method redefined at subclass level

Figure 11.12

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Polymorphism
Allows different objects to respond to same
message in different ways

Figure 11.13

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Abstract Data Types (ADT)

• Describes a set of similar objects
• Differs from conventional data types
– Operations are user-defined
– Uses encapsulation
• Definitions needed for creation
– Name
– Data representation
– Abstract data type operations and constraints

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Object Classification
• Simple
– Only single-valued attributes
– No attributes refer to other object
• Composite
– At least one multivalued attribute
– No attributes refer to other object
• Compound
– At least one attribute that references other object
• Hybrid
– Repeating group of attributes
– At least one refers to other object

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Characteristics of OODM
• Supports complex objects
• Must be extensible
• Supports encapsulation
• Exhibit inheritance
• Supports object identity

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OO vs. E-R Model Components

Table 11.3
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Shared Representation
for all Objects of the Class Person

Figure 11.14

Figure 11.15
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Referential Sharing of Objects

Figure 11.19

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Class-Subclass Relationship

Figure 11.21

Figure 11.20

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Interobject Relationships
• Attribute-Class Link
• Object’s attribute references another object
• Relationship Representation
– Related classes enclosed in boxes
– Double line on right side indicates mandatory
– Connectivity indicated by labeling each box
• 1:M
• M:N
• M:N with an Intersection Class

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1:1 and 1:M Relationships

Figure 11.24
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Employee-Dependent Relationship

Figure 11.25

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Representing the M:N Relationship

Figure 11.26

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Representing the M:N Relationship

with Associated Attributes

Figure 11.27

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Representing the M:N Relationship

with Intersection Class

Figure 11.28
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Object Space Representation

Figure 11.29

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Late and Early Binding

• Late binding
– Data type of attribute not known until runtime
– Allows different instances of same class to contain
different data types for same attribute
• Early binding
– Allows database to check data type at compilation
or definition time

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OODM vs. E-R Data Models

• Object, Entity, and Tuple
– OODM object has behavior, inheritance, and
encapsulation
– OO modeling more natural
• Class, Entity Set, and Table
– Class allows description of data and behavior
– Class allows abstract data types
• Encapsulation and Inheritance
– Object inherits properties of superclasses
– Encapsulation hides data representation and method

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OODM vs. E-R Data Models (con’t.)

• Object ID • Access
– Not supported in – Relational models
relational models • SQL
• Relationships – OODM
– OODM • Navigational
• Interclass references • Set-oriented access
• Class hierarchy
inheritance
– Relational models
• Value-based
approach

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OODBMS
• Database management system integrates benefits
of typical database systems with OODM
characteristics
• Handles a mix of data types
• Follows OO rules
• Follows DBMS rules

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OO and Database Design

• Provides data identification and the procedures
for data manipulation
• Data and procedures self-contained entity
• Iterative and incremental
• DBA does more programming
• Lack of standards

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OODBMS Advantages
• More semantic information
• Support for complex objects
• Extensibility of data types
• May improve performance with efficient caching
• Versioning
• Reusability
• Inheritance speeds development and application
• Potential to integrate DBMSs into single
environment

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OODBMS Disadvantages
• Strong opposition from the established RDBMSs
• Lack of theoretical foundation
• Throwback to old pointer systems
• Lack of standard ad hoc query language
• Lack of business data design and management
tools
• Steep learning curve
• Low market presence
• Lack of compatibility between different OODBMSs

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OO Influences on Relational Model

• Extensibility of new user-defined (abstract) data
types
• Complex objects
• Inheritance
• Procedure calls (rules or triggers)
• System-generated identifiers (OID surrogates)

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The Next Generation of DBMS

• Object-oriented database systems
• Artificial intelligence systems
• Expert systems
• Distributed database
• The Internet

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