Re: [xml-dev] Caught napping!

[Ronald Bourret <rpbourret@rpbourret.com>]

Dan Weinreb wrote:
> 
>    From: Ronald Bourret <rpbourret@rpbourret.com>
> 
>    First, it's important to remember that native XML databases model XML
>    *documents*, not the data in those documents.
> 
> That's a very strange thing to say.  I don't understand what you mean
> by it.  Is that like saying "Relational databases model *tables*, not
> the data in those tables."?

Hmmmm. I see what you mean. There are two things here:

1) The XML specification defines a serialization syntax. It does not
define what that syntax models. Thus, in a strict sense, my comment is
correct. However, depending on your view of the world, this may or may
not apply.

2) For many (most?) people, you are correct -- the native XML database
models the data in the documents. In this case, the model of the
document is a proxy for the objects used to model the data, just like
tables and columns are a proxy for the objects in the relational model.
A better wording is therefore:

"A native XML database defines a set of objects that model an XML
document and uses these objects to model the data in that document. The
minimal model is elements, attributes, text, document order, and
hierarchical order."

Other definitions welcomed. I've been wrestling with this one for about
six months...

-- Ron