Relational Algebra - Introduction

Introduction

Relational algebra received little attention outside of pure mathematics until the publication of E.F. Codd's relational model of data in 1970. Codd proposed such an algebra as a basis for database query languages. (See section Implementations.)

Both a named and a unnamed perspective are possible for relational algebra, depending on whether the tuples are endowed with component names or not. In the unnamed perspective, a tuple is simply a member of a Cartesian product. In the named perspective, tuples are functions from a finite set U of attributes (of the relation) to a domain of values (assumed distinct from U). The relational algebras obtained from the two perspectives are equivalent. The typical undergraduate textbooks present only the named perspective though, and this article follows suit.

Relational algebra is essentially equivalent in expressive power to relational calculus (and thus first-order logic); this result is known as Codd's theorem. One must be careful to avoid a mismatch that may arise between the two languages because negation, applied to a formula of the calculus, constructs a formula that may be true on an infinite set of possible tuples, while the difference operator of relational algebra always returns a finite result. To overcome these difficulties, Codd restricted the operands of relational algebra to finite relations only and also proposed restricted support for negation (NOT) and disjunction (OR). Analogous restrictions are found in many other logic-based computer languages. Codd defined the term relational completeness to refer to a language that is complete with respect to first-order predicate calculus apart from the restrictions he proposed. In practice the restrictions have no adverse effect on the applicability of his relational algebra for database purposes.