Comparison of database interfaces for application programming

Abstract

The historical evolution of interfaces to databases at the application programming level is analyzed. Emphasis is put on aspects of the data manipulation operations rather than on the data model that they address. Four phases are distinguished in this evolution: “call” interfaces, simple language extensions, non-procedural languages embedded in general purpose languages, and integrated languages. The evolution is explained in terms of the growing needs for more reliable programs written in high level languages, for which programmer efficiency is more important than machine efficiency.