A run-time execution model for referential integrity maintenance

The author explores anomalous situations which can arise during the processing of database operations on schemas which include referential integrity constraints. A more declarative (as opposed to operational) approach to referential integrity is proposed. He reviews some of the contributions which ANSI Technical Committee X3H2 on Database has made in this area, and which have been reflected in the referential integrity specifications of the forthcoming SQL2 and SQL3 standards. A proposal that replaced the recent compile-time paradigm with a run-time paradigm is included. A correctness proof for this paradigm is provided.<
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