Virtual database technology

Virtual database (VDB) technology makes external data behave as an extension of an enterprise's relational database (RDBMS) system. VDB technology enables the rapid deployment of applications with at least one of the following characteristics: large numbers of data sources; data sources that are autonomous (i.e. there is no centralized control); or data sources that can have a mixture of structured and unstructured data. The World Wide Web and most intranets have all of these characteristics and can thus benefit from VDB technology.