• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Computer Notes

Library
    • Computer Fundamental
    • Computer Memory
    • DBMS Tutorial
    • Operating System
    • Computer Networking
    • C Programming
    • C++ Programming
    • Java Programming
    • C# Programming
    • SQL Tutorial
    • Management Tutorial
    • Computer Graphics
    • Compiler Design
    • Style Sheet
    • JavaScript Tutorial
    • Html Tutorial
    • Wordpress Tutorial
    • Python Tutorial
    • PHP Tutorial
    • JSP Tutorial
    • AngularJS Tutorial
    • Data Structures
    • E Commerce Tutorial
    • Visual Basic
    • Structs2 Tutorial
    • Digital Electronics
    • Internet Terms
    • Servlet Tutorial
    • Software Engineering
    • Interviews Questions
    • Basic Terms
    • Troubleshooting
Menu

Header Right

Home » Database » Rdbms » What are Relational Algebra and Relational Calculus?
Next →
← Prev

What are Relational Algebra and Relational Calculus?

By Dinesh Thakur

Relational Algebra is a procedural language that can be used to tell the DBMS how to build a new relation from one or more relations in the database and the Relational Calculus is a non-procedural language that can be used to formulate the definition of a relation in terms of one or more database relations.

While using the relational algebra, user has to specify what is required and what are the procedures or steps to obtain the required output whereas in Relational Calculus user just specifies what is required and need not to specify how to obtain it. Both the relational algebra and the relational calculus are formal, non-user-friendly languages. They have been used as the basis for other, higher-level Data Manipulation Languages (DMLs) for relational databases. They illustrate the basic operations required of any DML and serve as the standard of comparison for other relational languages.

The relational algebra is a theoretical language with operations that work on one or more relations to define another relation without changing the original relation(s). Thus, both the operands and the results are relations, and so the output from one operation can become the input to another operation. This allows expressions to be nested in the relational algebra, just as we can nest arithmetic operations. This property is called closure: relations are closed under the algebra, just as numbers are closed under arithmetic operations.

There are many variations of the operations that are included in relational algebra. Codd originally proposed eight operations, but several others have been developed. The five fundamental operations in relational algebra, Selection, Projection, Cartesian product, Union and Difference, perform most of the data retrieval operations, which can be expressed in terms of the five basic operations.

In relational algebra each operation takes one or more relations as its operand(s) and another relation as its result. Consider an example of mathematical algebra as shown below

                                                                 3+5=8

Here, 3 and 5 are operands and + is an arithmetic operator which gives 8 as the result.

Similarly, in relational algebra, RI + R2 = R3

Here RI, R2 are relations (operands) and + is relational operator which gives R3 as a resultant relation.

Comparison Between Relational Algebra and Relational Calculus

Relational Algebra defined by using the eight basic operators, Codd then went on to define a Relational Calculus. Here, is a comparison of Relational Algebra and relational Calculus:

Comparison between Relational Algebra and Relational Calculus

You’ll also like:

  1. What is Relational Calculus
  2. Relational Algebra – What is Relational Algebra?
  3. Types of Relational Operators
  4. Relational Model
  5. Relational Operators in Java Example
Next →
← Prev
Like/Subscribe us for latest updates     

About Dinesh Thakur
Dinesh ThakurDinesh Thakur holds an B.C.A, MCDBA, MCSD certifications. Dinesh authors the hugely popular Computer Notes blog. Where he writes how-to guides around Computer fundamental , computer software, Computer programming, and web apps.

Dinesh Thakur is a Freelance Writer who helps different clients from all over the globe. Dinesh has written over 500+ blogs, 30+ eBooks, and 10000+ Posts for all types of clients.


For any type of query or something that you think is missing, please feel free to Contact us.


Primary Sidebar

DBMS

Database Management System

    • DBMS - Home
    • DBMS - Definition
    • DBMS - What is
    • DBMS - Entity Sets
    • DBMS - Components
    • DBMS - Languages
    • DBMS - Normalization
    • DBMS - Data Models
    • DBMS - Processing System
    • DBMS - Advantages
    • DBMS - ER-Model
    • DBMS - Functional Dependence
    • DBMS - Relational Model
    • DBMS - Architecture
    • DBMS - Network Model
    • DBMS - Approach
    • DBMS - Data Independence
    • DBMS - Relational Schema
    • DBMS - Instance
    • DBMS - Functions and Service
    • DBMS - Server
    • DBMS - DBA
    • DBMS - Instance & Schemas
    • DBMS - System Type
    • DBMS - DDL, DML and DCL
    • DBMS - Users
    • DBMS - Model
    • DBMS - System Structure
    • DBMS - Role of DBA
    • DBMS - Metadata
    • DBMS - ER-Diagram
    • DBMS - E-R Model Problems
    • DBMS - DBMS Vs.RDBMS
    • DBMS - Basic Construction of E-R
    • DBMS - E-R Notation
    • DBMS - Database View
    • DBMS - Concurrency Control
    • DBMS - Schema
    • DBMS - Procedure for Access
    • DBMS - Object
    • DBMS - dBase
    • DBMS - Relational Algebra
    • DBMS - Deadlock
    • DBMS - Relational Database
    • DBMS - Query
    • DBMS - Schema

DBMS Normal Forms

    • Database - CODD’S Rules
    • Database - 1NF
    • Database - 2NF
    • Database - 3NF
    • Database - 4NF
    • Database - 5NF
    • Database - BCNF

Advance Database

    • Database - File Organization
    • Database - Type Lock
    • Database - Transaction
    • Database - Key Type
    • Database - Relational Algebra
    • Database - Components
    • Database - Deadlock Detect
    • Database - Design Methodology
    • Database - Relational Operators
    • Database - Relational Calculus
    • Database - Lock Granularity
    • Database - Deadlocks Handling
    • Database - Concurrent Control
    • Database - Denormalization
    • Database - Starvation
    • Database - OODB
    • Database - Data Warehouse
    • Database - Fragmentation
    • Database - Data Replication
    • Database - Distributed
    • Database - Transparences
    • Database - ORDBMSS
    • Database - Data Mining
    • Database - Security
    • Database - DBTG
    • Database - OLAP
    • Database - Integrity
    • Database - Data Encryption
    • Database - Recover
    • Database - Data Protection

Some Other Advance Articls

  • Adv of Distributed DBMS
  • Homogeneous and Heterogeneous
  • Causes for Database Failure
  • DBMS Architecture
  • Features for Any DBMS
  • OLTP Systems Vs Data Warehousing
  • Data Warehousing Architecture

Other Links

  • DBMS - PDF Version

Footer

Basic Course

  • Computer Fundamental
  • Computer Networking
  • Operating System
  • Database System
  • Computer Graphics
  • Management System
  • Software Engineering
  • Digital Electronics
  • Electronic Commerce
  • Compiler Design
  • Troubleshooting

Programming

  • Java Programming
  • Structured Query (SQL)
  • C Programming
  • C++ Programming
  • Visual Basic
  • Data Structures
  • Struts 2
  • Java Servlet
  • C# Programming
  • Basic Terms
  • Interviews

World Wide Web

  • Internet
  • Java Script
  • HTML Language
  • Cascading Style Sheet
  • Java Server Pages
  • Wordpress
  • PHP
  • Python Tutorial
  • AngularJS
  • Troubleshooting

 About Us |  Contact Us |  FAQ

Dinesh Thakur is a Technology Columinist and founder of Computer Notes.

Copyright © 2023. All Rights Reserved.