Overview
By this time, most of us have been introduced to
the object-oriented features included in Oracle8. While many may be
conversantly familiar with the new functionality that the object
extensions to Oracle8 have introduced, far fewer have taken
advantage of this exciting departure from conventional relational
design. While it is recognized that the first deployment of the
object-relational database by Oracle does not address every aspect
of object-oriented methodology, most of the key elements are
covered.
One of the most exciting of these key elements
in the object extensions is the support for methods. A method,
in the purely object-oriented paradigm, is the incorporation of a
specific behavior assigned to an object or element. Fundamentally,
it is recognized that the encapsulation of data with its associated
behavior, is key to the effective modeling and implementation of
complex systems. Part of the tremendous appeal of the
object-oriented paradigm is this ability to encapsulate data and
behavior together. Oracle’s newest version of the database brings
this sorely needed functionality to the object-relational paradigm.
The concept behind methods is of crucial importance in the
object-oriented world and will certainly prove to be equally so in
implementations requiring Oracle8.
Two questions should immediately come to mind in
any discussion about object functionality in Oracle. The first, most
obvious one is: “How does it work”? The second, but no less
important one will be: “How does this impact the way that database
systems will be designed”? This paper will seek to describe the ways
in which methods can be effectively incorporated into a working
object-relational design.
