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Chapter 25: Problem 10

Discuss the naming problem in distributed databases.

Short Answer

Expert verified
A distributed database presents a unique challenge known as the 'naming problem' due to the potential for the same name to refer to different items in different databases. For example, the term 'football' might represent different sports in databases based in the US and UK, leading to confusion and issues if not managed properly. Thus, devising uniform and unambiguous naming conventions is crucial in distributed databases.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Distributed Databases

A distributed database is a database that is spread across various sites, each managed by a distributed database management system (DDMS) that can run independently. The data on several computers can be simultaneously accessed and modified.
02

Identifying the Naming Problem

One challenge that comes with distributed databases is the 'naming problem'. This issue arises because in a distributed system, the same name can potentially refer to different items in different databases. For example, the 'customer' in one database might not represent the same entity as 'customer' in another.
03

Examples of Naming Problems

For instance, suppose we have two databases for an e-commerce platform, one for the US and the other for the UK, and both databases have an item named 'football'. In the US database, 'football' would mean American football, but in the UK database, 'football' would be referring to soccer. Thus, identical names refer to completely different items. Such situations lead to confusion, data corruption, and errors if not managed properly.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Compare the primary site method with the primary copy method for distributed concurrency control. How does the use of backup sites affect each?

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How is a vertical partitioning of a relation specified? How can a relation be put back together from a complete vertical partitioning?

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