Re: What is a "tuple"

Ross J. Reedstrom wrote:
> On Fri, Jun 22, 2001 at 06:31:03PM +0200, Kristoff Bonne wrote:
> > Greetings, (and also Alex)
> >
> > On Fri, 22 Jun 2001, Josh Berkus wrote:
> > > > Excuse my lack my 'database'-jargon, but what is a 'tuple'?
> >
> > > Also known as a "Record", or a "Row". The word "tuple" is used because
> > > it can refer to a row returned as part of a result set as well as a
> > > record in a table. Strictly speaking, a row returned from most queries
> > > is not a record, as that row does not exist in permanent storage
> > > anywhere .... it is created by the query. Hence, "tuple".
>
> It's probably a back formation from the suffix 'tuple' as in the sequence:
>
> single, double, triple, quadruple, quintuple, sextuple, septuple, ...
>
> So, mathematicians generalized this (as is their wont) to
>
> [algebraic expression]-tuple, such as:
>
> n-tuple, (n^2)-tuple
>
> Which found their way to The Relational Algebra, simplified to just
> 'tuple' and hence, to SQL.
>
> Ross (way to much detail!) Reedstrom

At least it's for sure detailed enough :-)

Jan

--

#======================================================================#
# It's easier to get forgiveness for being wrong than for being right. #
# Let's break this rule - forgive me. #
#================================================== JanWieck(at)Yahoo(dot)com #

_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com