Efficient implementation of generalized quantification in relational query languages

Abstract

We present research aimed at improving our understanding of the use and implementation of quantification in relational query languages in general and SQL in particular. In order to make our results as general as possible, we use the framework of Generalized Quantification. Generalized Quantifiers (GQs) are high-level, declarative logical operators that in the past have been studied from a theoretical perspective. In this paper we focus on their practical use, showing how to incorporate a dynamic set of GQs in relational query languages, how to implement them efficiently and use them in the context of SQL. We present experimental evidence of the performance of the approach, showing that it improves over traditional (relational) approaches.