Lecture 9:

Object-Oriented
Databases
By Dr. Shaheera Rashwan
ODBMS
• The ODBMS which is an abbreviation for object-
oriented database management system is the data
model in which data is stored in form of objects, which
are instances of classes. These classes and objects
together make an object-oriented data model.
OO Data Model
• Three Major Components of Object-Oriented Data
Model:
1. Object structure
2. Object classes
3. Object identity
Object Structure
• The structure of an object refers to the properties that
an object is made up of. These properties of an object
are referred to as an attribute. Thus, an object is a real-
world entity with certain attributes that makes up the
object structure.
• Also, an object encapsulates the data code into a single
unit which in turn provides data abstraction by hiding
the implementation details from the user.
• The object structure is further composed of three types
of components: Messages, Methods, and Variables.
Object Structure’s Messages
A message provides an interface or acts as a
communication medium between an object and the
outside world. A message can be of two types:
• Read-only message: If the invoked method does not
change the value of a variable, then the invoking
message is said to be a read-only message.
• Update message: If the invoked method changes the
value of a variable, then the invoking message is said to
be an update message.
Object Structure’s Methods
• When a message is passed then the body of code that is
executed is known as a method. Whenever a method is
executed, it returns a value as output. A method can be
of two types:
• Read-only method: When the value of a variable is
not affected by a method, then it is known as the read-
only method.
• Update-method: When the value of a variable change
by a method, then it is known as an update method.
Object Structure’s Variables
• It stores the data of an object.
• The data stored in the variables makes the object
distinguishable from one another.
Object Classes
• An object which is a real-world entity is an instance of a
class.
• First we need to define a class and then the objects are
made which differ in the values they store but share the
same class definition.
• The objects in turn correspond to various messages and
variables stored in them.
EXAMPLE

CLERK is a class that

holds the object
variables and
messages.
Inheritance and Encapsulation
• An OODBMS also supports inheritance in an extensive
manner as in a database there may be many classes
with similar methods, variables and messages. Thus,
the concept of the class hierarchy is maintained to
depict the similarities among various classes.
• The concept of encapsulation that is the data or
information hiding is also supported by an object-
oriented data model. And this data model also provides
the facility of abstract data types apart from the built-in
data types like char, int, float.
ODBMS Properties
• ODBMS incorporates the properties of an object-
oriented data model with a database management
system, and supports the concept of programming
paradigms like classes and objects along with the
support for other concepts like encapsulation,
inheritance, and the user-defined ADT’s (abstract data
types).
• Object-oriented data is data that is represented using
objects, which encapsulate data and behavior into a
single entity.
ODBMS Properties

• An ODBMS stores and manages data as objects, and

provides mechanisms for querying, manipulating, and
retrieving the data. In an ODBMS, the data is typically stored
in the form of classes and objects, which can be related to
each other using inheritance and association relationships.
• In an ODBMS, the data is managed using an object-oriented
programming language or a specialized query language
designed for object-oriented databases. Some of the popular
object-oriented database languages include Smalltalk, Java,
and C++. Some ODBMS also support standard SQL
Advantages
• Supports Complex Data Structures: ODBMS is
designed to handle complex data structures, such as
inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation. This
makes it easier to work with complex data models in an
object-oriented programming environment.
• Improved Performance: ODBMS provides improved
performance compared to traditional relational
databases for complex data models. ODBMS can reduce
the amount of mapping and translation required
between the programming language and the database,
which can improve performance.
Advantages (Cont’d)
• Reduced Development Time: ODBMS can reduce
development time since it eliminates the need to map
objects to tables and allows developers to work directly
with objects in the database.
• Supports Rich Data Types: ODBMS supports rich data
types, such as audio, video, images, and spatial data,
which can be challenging to store and retrieve in
traditional relational databases.
• Scalability: ODBMS can scale horizontally and vertically,
which means it can handle larger volumes of data and
can support more users.
Disadvantages

• Limited Adoption: ODBMS is not as widely adopted as

traditional relational databases, which means it may be
more challenging to find developers with experience
working with ODBMS.
• Lack of Standardization: ODBMS lacks
standardization, which means that different vendors
may implement different features and functionality.
• Cost: ODBMS can be more expensive than traditional
relational databases since it requires specialized
software and hardware.
References
• https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/definition-and-overview-of-odbms/
Any Questions?