Query optimization for nontraditional database applications

Database query languages and their use for programming nontraditional applications, such as engineering and artificial intelligence applications, are discussed. In such environments, database programs are used to code applications that work over large data sets residing in databases. Optimizing such programs then becomes a necessity. An examination is made of various optimization techniques, and transformations are suggested for improving the performance of database programs. These transformations result in new equivalent database programs with better space and time performance. Several of these techniques apply to classical query languages, although extended query languages which include an iteration operator are specifically discussed