Abstract

In order to support an object-oriented paradigm that now has become the standard in information systems development, Oracle has implemented an object-oriented model within its database management system. This paper explores the advantages gained by using an object-oriented approach to database management systems based on Oracle’s object-relational database system.
User-defined object types are the foundation of the Oracle object model. The means by which these object types are produced and used to create object-oriented databases are introduced in this paper. Detailed specifics are also given to describe the ways object types are used in implementing the object-oriented characteristics of abstraction, encapsulation, and inheritance. Finally, future implications of the increasing use of the object model in database analysis and design are explored.