The hypernode model and its associated query language

A data model called the hypernode model, whose single data structure is the hypernode, is introduced. Hypernodes are graphs whose node set can contain graphs in addition to primitive nodes. Hypernodes can be used to represent arbitrarily complex objects and can support the encapsulation of information, to any level. A declarative logic-based language for the hypernode model is introduced and shown to be query complete. It is then shown that hypernodes can represent extensional functions, nested relations, and composite objects. Thus, the model is at least as expressive as the functional and nested relational database models. It is demonstrated that the hypernode model can be regarded as an object-oriented one.<>