🛢DBMS: XQuery (Definitions)

"This is a standard method of querying XML data using XML query expressions." (Joseph L Jorden & Dandy Weyn, "MCTS Microsoft SQL Server 2005: Implementation and Maintenance Study Guide - Exam 70-431", 2006)

"Designed to interrogate XML-based data, this standards-based query language also has some programming capabilities." (Robert D. Schneider and Darril Gibson, "Microsoft SQL Server 2008 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies", 2008)

"XQuery, or XML Query Language, is an XML query language designed to retrieve and interpret data from diverse XML sources." (Michael Coles, "Pro T-SQL 2008 Programmer's Guide", 2008)

"Designed to interrogate XML-based data, this standards-based query language also has some programming capabilities. See also XML." (Robert D Schneider & Darril Gibson, "Microsoft SQL Server 2008 All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies", 2008)

"A query language for XML. XQuery allows you to query data from XML documents or any data source that can be viewed as XML, such as relational databases. With XQuery, you can query almost any data source as though it were XML, regardless of how the data is physically stored." (John Goodson & Robert A Steward, "The Data Access Handbook", 2009)

"A query language for retrieving data from an XML document or XML database." (Craig S Mullins, "Database Administration", 2012)

"Functional query language that is broadly applicable to a variety of XML data types derived from Quilt, XPath, and XQL." (SQL Server 2012 Glossary, "Microsoft", 2012)

"XML Query Language, an XML query language designed to retrieve and interpret data from diverse XML sources." (Miguel Cebollero et al, "Pro T-SQL Programmer’s Guide 4th Ed", 2015)

🛢DBMS: Authentication (Definitions)

"In computer security, the process of determining who the user claims to be and whether that claim is correct." (Bill Pribyl & Steven Feuerstein, "Learning Oracle PL/SQL", 2001)

"The step of determining the identity of the requesting client. Single-factor authentication usually is based on a simple password and is the least secure authentication scheme. Two-factor authentication may involve What-You-Know (a password) with What-You-Possess (a plastic card) and is secure enough for banks’ automated teller machines." (Ralph Kimball & Margy Ross, "The Data Warehouse Toolkit" 2nd Ed., 2002)

"A process that occurs as users attempt to log on to SQL Server 2000. This process verifies that the users are permitted to log on by checking their identity against a database of security accounts. There are two methods of authentication in SQL Server 2000 - Mixed Mode authentication and Windows Authentication. Windows Authentication is recommended for all cases where all SQL Server 2000 users have the ability to log on initially in a Windows environment." (Anthony Sequeira & Brian Alderman, "The SQL Server 2000 Book", 2003)

"A challenge/response mechanism that ensures that a user connecting to SQL Server is authorized to do so." (Marilyn Miller-White et al, "MCITP Administrator: Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005 Optimization and Maintenance 70-444", 2007)

"Verification of the user identity." (MongoDb, "Glossary", 2008)

"The process of validating that the user attempting to connect to Reporting Server is authorized to do so." (Jim Joseph et al, "Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008 Reporting Services Unleashed", 2009)

"The process through which a DBMS verifies that only registered users are able to access the database." (Carlos Coronel et al, "Database Systems: Design, Implementation, and Management" 9th Ed., 2011)

"The process of confirming a user’s or computer’s identity." (Craig S Mullins, "Database Administration", 2012)

"The process of verifying the identity of a user, computer, process, or other entity by validating the credentials provided by the entity. Common forms of credentials are digital signatures, smart cards, biometric data, and a combination of user names and passwords." (Microsoft, "SQL Server 2012 Glossary", 2012)

"The process by which a system verifies a user's identity. User authentication is completed by a security facility outside the DB2 database system, often part of the operating system or a separate product." (Sybase, "Open Server Server-Library/C Reference Manual", 2019)

"The process by which a user presents credentials to the database, which verifies the credentials and allows access to the database." (Oracle)

🛢DBMS: Data Control Language [DCL] (Definitions)

"The subset of SQL statements used to control permissions on database objects. Permissions are controlled using the GRANT and REVOKE statements." (Microsoft Corporation, "SQL Server 7.0 System Administration Training Kit", 1999)

"The subset of SQL statements used to control permissions on database objects. Permissions are controlled using the GRANT and REVOKE statements. See data definition language (DDL) and data manipulation language (DML)." (Microsoft Corporation, "Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Data Warehouse Training Kit", 2000)

"A subset of Transact-SQL statements. DCL is used to control permissions on database objects." (Anthony Sequeira & Brian Alderman, "The SQL Server 2000 Book", 2003)

"A subset of Structured Query Language used to define data security, user function permissions, and data access to data in relational tables." (DAMA International, "The DAMA Dictionary of Data Management", 2011)

"SQL statements used for controlling access to data and data structures, e.g., GRANT and REVOKE." (Craig S Mullins, "Database Administration: The Complete Guide to DBA Practices and Procedures" 2nd Ed, 2012)

"The subset of SQL statements used to control permissions on database objects." (Microsoft, "SQL Server 2012 Glossary", 2012)

🛢DBMS: Data Definition Language [DDL] (Definitions)

"The subset of SQL statements used for modeling the structure (rather than the contents) of a database or a cube. The DDL gives you the ability to create, modify, and remove databases and database objects." (Microsoft Corporation, "SQL Server 7.0 System Administration Training Kit", 1999)

"Includes statements such as CREATE, ALTER, and DROP to work with objects such as tables. DDL modifies the structure of the objects in a database instead of the contents of the objects." (Bob Bryla, "Oracle Database Foundations", 2004)

"A language, usually part of a database management system, that is used to define all attributes and properties of a database, especially row layouts, column definitions, key columns (and sometimes keying methodology), file locations, and storage strategy." (Thomas Moore, "MCTS 70-431: Implementing and Maintaining Microsoft SQL Server 2005", 2006)

"Commands supported by a database that enable the creation, removal, or modification of structures (such as relational tables or classes) within it." (Pramod J Sadalage & Scott W Ambler, "Refactoring Databases: Evolutionary Database Design", 2006)

"Commands used to change metadata. In some databases, these commands require a COMMIT command; in other database engines, this is not the case. When a COMMIT command is not required, these commands automatically commit any pending changes to the database, and cannot be rolled back." (Gavin Powell, "Beginning Database Design", 2006)

"A component of structured query language (SQL) used to create and delete databases and database objects such as tables and indexes." (Sara Morganand & Tobias Thernstrom , "MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit : Designing and Optimizing Data Access by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - Exam 70-442", 2007)

"The language component of a DBMS that is used to describe the logical structure of a database." (S. Sumathi & S. Esakkirajan, "Fundamentals of Relational Database Management Systems", 2007)

"The SQL commands that deal with creating the database's structure such as CREATE TABLE, CREATE INDEX, and DROP TABLE." (Rod Stephens, "Beginning Database Design Solutions", 2008)

"A special-purpose computer language used to define the schema of a navigational database." (Jan L Harrington, "Relational Database Design and Implementation, 3rd Ed.", 2009)

"1.Generally, the subset of Structured Query Language commands used to define and implement structured database objects. 2.In Database Management Systems, the specific definitions to formally define and implement a database." (DAMA International, "The DAMA Dictionary of Data Management", 2011)

"The language that allows a database administrator to define the database structure, schema, and subschema." (Carlos Coronel et al, "Database Systems: Design, Implementation, and Management" 9th Ed., 2011)

"A language that defines all attributes and properties of a database, especially record layouts, field definitions, key fields, file locations, and storage strategy." Microsoft, "SQL Server 2012 Glossary", 2012)

"SQL statements used for creating and modifying data structures, e.g., CREATE, ALTER, and DROP." (Craig S Mullins, "Database Administration: The Complete Guide to DBA Practices and Procedures" 2nd Ed. , 2012)

"SQL statements used for creating and modifying data structures, e.g., CREATE, ALTER, and DROP." (Craig S Mullins, "Database Administration", 2012)

"A language for describing data and its relationships in a database. See also Data Manipulation Language, relational database management system." (Sybase, "Open Server Server-Library/C Reference Manual", 2019)

🛢DBMS: Extent (Definitions)

"Whenever a table or index requires space, SQL Server allocates a block of 8 2K pages, called an extent, to the object." (Karen Paulsell et al, "Sybase SQL Server: Performance and Tuning Guide", 1996)

"Eight contiguous pages in SQL. Pages are grouped by eights into extents. Extents are used to allocate space for indexes and tables." (Owen Williams, "MCSE TestPrep: SQL Server 6.5 Design and Implementation", 1998)

"The space allocated upon creation of a SQL Server object, such as a table or index. In SQL Server, an extent is eight contiguous pages." (Microsoft Corporation, "SQL Server 7.0 System Administration Training Kit", 1999)

"A group of pages that are allocated together, as part of the initial creation of an object or when an existing extent becomes full." (Peter Gulutzan & Trudy Pelzer, "SQL Performance Tuning", 2002)

"The unit of space allocated to a SQL Server object, such as a table or index, whenever the object needs more space. In SQL Server 2000, an extent is eight contiguous pages." (Anthony Sequeira & Brian Alderman, "The SQL Server 2000 Book", 2003)

"A contiguous group of blocks allocated for use as part of a table, index, and so forth." (Bob Bryla, "Oracle Database Foundations", 2004)

"The basic unit by which space is allocated to a table or an index. An extent is eight continuous disk pages, which equates to 64 KB." (Allan Hirt et al, "Microsoft SQL Server 2000 High Availability", 2004)

"This is a group of eight data pages totaling 64KB in size." (Joseph L Jorden & Dandy Weyn, "MCTS Microsoft SQL Server 2005: Implementation and Maintenance Study Guide - Exam 70-431", 2006)

"A collection of eight contiguous pages used internally by the storage engine in SQL Server 2005 to track the allocation of file space to table and indexes." (Marilyn Miller-White et al, "MCITP Administrator: Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005 Optimization and Maintenance 70-444", 2007)

"An extent is SQL Server's basic allocation unit of storage. An extent is 64 KB in size and consists of eight logically contiguous data pages, each page being 8 KB in size." (Michael Coles, "Pro T-SQL 2008 Programmer's Guide", 2008)

"On a disk or other direct-access storage device, a continuous block of storage space reserved by the operating system for a particular file or program." (Microsoft, "SQL Server 2012 Glossary", 2012)

"SQL Server’s basic allocation unit of storage. An extent is 64 KB in size and consists of eight logically contiguous data pages, each of which is 8 KB in size." (Miguel Cebollero et al, "Pro T-SQL Programmer’s Guide 4th Ed", 2015)

"An allocation of space, within a container of a table space, to a single database object. This allocation consists of multiple pages." (Sybase, "Open Server Server-Library/C Reference Manual", 2019)

🛢DBMS: Equijoin (Definitions)

"A join based on equality." (Karen Paulsell et al, "Sybase SQL Server: Performance and Tuning Guide", 1996)

"A join in which the values in the columns being joined are compared for equality, and all columns are included in the results." (Microsoft Corporation, "SQL Server 7.0 System Administration Training Kit", 1999)

"A join using the equals operator in the join expression." (Peter Gulutzan & Trudy Pelzer, "SQL Performance Tuning", 2002)

"A join between two tables where rows are returned if one or more columns in common between the two tables are equal and not NULL." (Bob Bryla, "Oracle Database Foundations", 2004)

"A join operator where the join condition involves equality." (S. Sumathi & S. Esakkirajan, "Fundamentals of Relational Database Management Systems", 2007)

"A join based on matching identical values." (Jan L Harrington, "Relational Database Design and Implementation" 3rd Ed., 2009)

"A join that combines two tables based on matching (equivalent) data in rows in the two tables." (Jan L Harrington, "SQL Clearly Explained" 3rd Ed., 2010)

"A join operator that links tables based on an equality condition that compares specified columns of the tables." (Carlos Coronel et al, "Database Systems: Design, Implementation, and Management" 9th Ed., 2011)

"A join in which the values in the columns being joined are compared for equality, and all columns are included in the results." (Microsoft, "SQL Server 2012 Glossary", 2012)

"A join whose join condition contains an equality operator." (Oracle, "Database SQL Tuning Guide Glossary", 2013)

"A join whose join condition uses only the equals predicate." (Sybase, "Open Server Server-Library/C Reference Manual", 2019)

🛢DBMS: Structured Query Language (Definitions)

"A database query and programming language, commonly pronounced 'sequel'. SQL Server supports an ANSI-standard SQL definition for all computer systems, in addition to T-SQL (Transact-SQL), SQL's own version of the SQL language." (Owen Williams, "MCSE TestPrep: SQL Server 6.5 Design and Implementation", 1998)

"A database query and programming language originally developed by IBM for mainframe computers. It is widely used for accessing data and for querying, updating, and managing relational database systems. There is now an ANSI-standard SQL definition for all computer systems." (Microsoft Corporation, "SQL Server 7.0 System Administration Training Kit", 1999)

"A language used to insert, retrieve, modify, and delete data in a relational database. SQL also contains statements for defining and administering the objects in a database." (Anthony Sequeira & Brian Alderman, "The SQL Server 2000 Book", 2003)

"A language used to insert, retrieve, modify, and delete data in a relational database. SQL also contains statements for defining and administering the objects in a database. SQL is the language supported by most relational databases, and is the subject of standards published by the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). SQL Server 2000 uses a version of the SQL language called T-SQL." (Thomas Moore, "EXAM CRAM™ 2: Designing and Implementing Databases with SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition", 2005)

 "An industry standard English-like language for building and manipulating relational databases." (Rod Stephens, "Beginning Database Design Solutions", 2008)

"Originally developed by IBM, this is a standards-based language that allows access to information stored in a relational database. See also Transact-SQL." (Robert D. Schneider and Darril Gibson, "Microsoft SQL Server 2008 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies", 2008)

"The language understood by RDBMSs and used to create and manage database objects and perform data manipulations (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and SELECT queries). SQL Server uses a version of the SQL language called Transact-SQL." (Jim Joseph, "Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services Unleashed", 2009)

"The programming language used to access data stored in a relational database." (Laura Reeves, "A Manager's Guide to Data Warehousing", 2009)

"A standard computer language designed to query any OLTP database, regardless of operating system." (Ken Withee, "Microsoft® Business Intelligence For Dummies®", 2010)

"A database query and programming language widely used for accessing, querying, updating, and managing data in relational database systems." (Microsoft, "SQL Server 2012 Glossary", 2012)

"A standardized language for defining and manipulating data in a relational database." (Sybase, "Open Server Server-Library/C Reference Manual", 2019)

🛢DBMS: Functional Dependency (Definitions)

 "Y is functionally dependent on X if the value of Y is determined by X. In other words if Y = X +1, the value of X will determine the resultant value of Y. Thus, Y is dependent on X as a function of the value of X. Functional dependence is the opposite of determinance." (Gavin Powell, "Beginning Database Design", 2006)

"A constraint between two attributes or two sets of attributes in a relation." (S. Sumathi & S. Esakkirajan, "Fundamentals of Relational Database Management Systems", 2007)

"A relationship between two attributes (or two combination of attributes) in a relation such that for every unique value of the second attribute, the table contains only one value of the first attribute. The first attribute, however, may be associated with multiple values of the second attribute." (Jan L Harrington, "Relational Database Design and Implementation" 3rd Ed., 2009)

"The property of one or more attributes (data items) that uniquely determines the value of one or more other attributes (data items). Given a table R, a set of attributes B is functionally dependent on another set of attributes A if, at each instant of time, each A value is associated with only one B value." (Toby J Teorey, ", Database Modeling and Design" 4th Ed., 2010)

"Within a relation R, an attribute B is functionally dependent on an attribute A if and only if a given value of the attribute A determines exactly one value of the attribute B. The relationship 'B is dependent on A' is equivalent to 'A determines B' and is written as AB." (Carlos Coronel et al, "Database Systems: Design, Implementation, and Management" 9th Ed., 2011)

🛢DBMS: NULL (Definitions)

"Having no explicitly assigned value. NULL is not equivalent to zero, or to blank. A value of NULL is not considered to be greater than, less than, or equivalent to any other value, including another value of NULL." (Karen Paulsell et al, "Sybase SQL Server: Performance and Tuning Guide", 1996)

"An entry that has no explicitly assigned value. NULL is not equivalent to zero or blank. A value of NULL is not considered to be greater than, less than, or equivalent to any other value, including another value of NULL." (Microsoft Corporation, "SQL Server 7.0 System Administration Training Kit", 1999)

"A possible value for any Oracle column that indicates the absence of any known value for that column. A NULL is usually used to represent a value that is unknown, not applicable, or not available." (Bob Bryla, "Oracle Database Foundations", 2004)

"A special column value that means 'this column has no value'." (Rod Stephens, "Beginning Database Design Solutions", 2008)

"Null is a special marker used to indicate an unknown value or the absence of a value within a database." (Michael Coles & Rodney Landrum, , "Expert SQL Server 2008 Encryption", 2008)

"An entry that has no explicitly assigned value. null is not the same as zero or blank." (Jim Joseph, "Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services Unleashed", 2009)

"A value, distinct from 0 or a blank, that means 'unknown'." (Jan L Harrington, "SQL Clearly Explained 3rd Ed. ", 2010)

"Pertaining to a value that indicates missing or unknown data." (Microsoft, "SQL Server 2012 Glossary", 2012)

"Represents missing or unknown information at the attribute (or column) level. If an attribute (or column) 'value' can be null, it can mean one of two things: The attribute/column is not applicable for certain occurrences of the entity, or the attribute applies to all entity occurrences, but the information may not always be known. It could be a combination of these two situations, too." (Craig S Mullins, "Database Administration", 2012)

"Having no explicitly assigned value. NULL is not equivalent to zero, or to blank. A value of NULL is not considered to be greater than, less than, or equivalent to any other value, including another value of NULL." (Sybase, "Open Server Server-Library/C Reference Manual", 2019)

🛢DBMS: Balanced Tree [BT] (Definitions)

"Short for balanced tree, or binary tree. SQL Server uses B-tree indexing. All leaf pages in a B-tree are the same distance from the root page of the index. B-trees provide consistent and predictable performance, good sequential and random record retrieval, and a flat tree structure." (Karen Paulsell et al, "Sybase SQL Server: Performance and Tuning Guide", 1996)

"A data structure that resembles a tree, it is also called a balanced tree." (Owen Williams, "MCSE TestPrep: SQL Server 6.5 Design and Implementation", 1998)

"This term describes SQL Server index structures." (Microsoft Corporation, "SQL Server 7.0 System Administration Training Kit", 1999)

"A relational index that is particularly useful for high-cardinality columns. The B-tree index builds a tree of values with a list of row IDs that have the leaf value. B-tree indexes are almost worthless for low-cardinality columns because they take a lot of space and they usually cannot be combined with other indexes at the same time to increase the focus of the constraints. Contrast with Bitmap index." (Ralph Kimball & Margy Ross, "The Data Warehouse Toolkit" 2nd Ed, 2002)

"A structure for storing index keys; an ordered, hierarchical, paged assortment of index keys. Some people say the 'B' stands for 'Balanced'." (Peter Gulutzan & Trudy Pelzer, "SQL Performance Tuning", 2002)

"A type of index structure that resembles an inverted tree. The branches of a b-tree index are balanced. Traversing the tree for any index value reads the same number of blocks." (Bob Bryla, "Oracle Database Foundations", 2004)

"Short for binary-tree , this is the structure of an index in SQL Server. It’s called this because it resembles a tree when drawn. Starting with a root page, it expands into leaf pages where data is stored." (Joseph L Jorden & Dandy Weyn, "MCTS Microsoft SQL Server 2005: Implementation and Maintenance Study Guide - Exam 70-431", 2006)

"An abstract data type used to store indexes in SQL Server." (Marilyn Miller-White et al, "MCITP Administrator: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Optimization and Maintenance 70-444", 2007)

"A self-balancing tree data structure that allows efficient searching of indexes. A b-tree stores data records in internal and leaf nodes." (Rod Stephens, "Beginning Database Design Solutions", 2008)

"A data structure commonly used by database management systems to store indexes. MongoDB uses B-trees for its indexes." (MongoDb, "Glossary", 2008)

"A keyed, treelike index structure." (Craig S Mullins, "Database Administration", 2012)

"A tree structure for storing database indexes." (Microsoft, "|SQL Server 2012 Glossary", 2012)

"An index organized like an upside-down tree. A B-tree index has two types of blocks: branch blocks for searching and leaf blocks that store values. The leaf blocks contain every indexed data value and a corresponding rowid used to locate the actual row. The 'B' stands for 'balanced' because all leaf blocks automatically stay at the same depth." (Oracle, "Database SQL Tuning Guide Glossary", 2013)

"An index that is arranged as a balanced hierarchy of pages and that minimizes access time by realigning data keys as items are inserted or deleted." (Sybase, "Open Server Server-Library/C Reference Manual", 2019)

"A hierarchical indexing technique based on an inverted tree of nodes containing ranges of indexed values. Going down the hierarchical levels, the nodes progressively contain smaller numbers of index values, so that any value may be searched for in a few trials by starting at the top." (Paulraj Ponniah, "Data Warehousing Fundamentals for IT Professionals", 2010)

🛢DBMS: Bitmap Index/Indexing (Definitions)

"An indexing structure used to provide extremely efficient retrieval. Bitmap indexes are not efficient in update operations, but they work very well in a read-only environment. Microsoft OLAP Services can use bitmap indexes for cubes." (Microsoft Corporation, "Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Data Warehouse Training Kit", 2000)

"A relational indexing technique most appropriate for columns with a limited number of potential values (low cardinality). Most optimizers can combine more than one bitmapped index in a single query." (Ralph Kimball & Margy Ross, "The Data Warehouse Toolkit 2nd Ed ", 2002)

"An index containing one or more bitmaps." (Peter Gulutzan & Trudy Pelzer, "SQL Performance Tuning", 2002)

"An index that maintains a binary string of ones and zeros for each distinct value of a column within the index." (Bob Bryla, "Oracle Database Foundations", 2004)

"A specialized form of an index indicating the existence or nonexistence of a condition for a group of blocks or records. Bitmaps are expensive to build and maintain, but provide very fast comparison and access facilities." (William H Inmon, "Building the Data Warehouse", 2005)

"An index containing binary representations for each record using 0’s and 1’s. For example, a bitmap index creates two bitmaps for two values of M for Male and F for Female. When M is encountered, the M bitmap is set to 1 and the F bitmap is set to 0." (Gavin Powell, "Beginning Database Design", 2006)

"A compact, high speed indexing method where the key values and the conditions are compressed to a small size that can be stored and searched rapidly." (S. Sumathi & S. Esakkirajan, "Fundamentals of Relational Database Management Systems", 2007)

"An index that uses a bit array (0s and 1s) to represent the existence of a value or condition." (Carlos Coronel et al, "Database Systems: Design, Implementation, and Management" 9th Ed., 2011)

"An indexing technique using a string of zeroes and ones, or bits. For each key value of the bitmap index a separate string of zeroes and ones is stored." (Craig S Mullins, "Database Administration: The Complete Guide to DBA Practices and Procedures", 2012)

"A subcomponent of a single bitmap index entry. Each indexed column value may have one or more bitmap pieces. The database uses bitmap pieces to break up an index entry that is large in relation to the size of a block." (Oracle, "Database SQL Tuning Guide Glossary", 2013)

🛢DBMS: Buffer Pool [BP] (Definitions)

"A buffer pool is a group of buffers logically connected so that a file using the pool has access to any of the available buffers." (F Peter Fisher & ‎George F Swindle, "Computer Programming Systems", 1964)

"A buffer pool is an area of storage that is segmented to provide a specific number of buffers. Buffers are obtained from the pool when needed and returned when no longer needed. Once returned to the pool, the buffer is then free to be used for another purpose." (Michael P Bouros, "Getting Into VSAM: An Introduction and Technical Reference", 1987)

"The buffer pool is a group of shared memory pages in the resident memory. It is used whenever a data page is read from disk." (Ron Flannery, "The Informix Handbook", 2000)

"A fixed-size allocation of memory, used to store an in-memory copy of a bunch of pages." (Peter Gulutzan & Trudy Pelzer, "SQL Performance Tuning", 2002)

"A buffer pool […] is simply a part of the total buffer cache that is subject to different retention criteria for database objects like tables." (Sam Alapati, "Expert Oracle Database 11g Administration" , 2009)

"A buffer pool is an area of memory into which database pages are read, modified, and held during processing." (IBM, "Business Process Management Performance teams", 2010)

"A block of memory reserved for index and table data pages." (SQL Server 2012 Glossary, "Microsoft", 2012)

"An area of memory set aside and used to avoid I/O operations when actual data is being read from the database. Also referred to as a data cache." (Craig S Mullins, "Database Administration: The Complete Guide to DBA Practices and Procedures" 2nd Ed., 2012)

"The buffer pool is a caching mechanism for managing transactions and writing and reading data to or from disks […]" (Charles Bell et al, MySQL High Availability: Tools for Building Robust Data Centers, 2014) 

"An area of memory into which data pages are read and in which they are modified and held during processing." (Sybase, "Open Server Server-Library/C Reference Manual", 2019)

"A buffer pool is an area of main memory that has been allocated by the database manager for the purpose of caching table and index data as it is read from disk." (IBM, DB2 documentation)

"The memory area that holds cached InnoDB data for both tables and indexes." (MySQL, "MySQL 8.0 Reference Manual Glossary")

🛢DBMS: Merge Replication (Definitions)

"A type of replication that allows sites to make autonomous changes to replicated data and, at a later time, merge changes made at all sites. Merge replication does not guarantee transactional consistency." (Microsoft Corporation, "SQL Server 7.0 System Administration Training Kit", 1999)

"A type of replication that allows sites to make autonomous changes to replicated data, and at a later time, merge changes and resolve conflicts when necessary." (Anthony Sequeira & Brian Alderman, "The SQL Server 2000 Book", 2003)

"The process of transferring data from the Publisher to the Subscriber, allowing the Publisher and Subscriber to update data while connected or disconnected and then merging the updates after they both are connected. Merge replication begins with a snapshot. Thereafter, no data is replicated until the Publisher and Subscriber do a "merge." The merge can be scheduled or done via an ad-hoc request. Merge replication's main benefit is that it supports subscribers who are not on the network much of the time. Transactions, which are committed, however, may be rolled back as the result of conflict resolution." (Thomas Moore, "EXAM CRAM™ 2: Designing and Implementing Databases with SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition", 2005)

"A replication type that relies on DML operations being captured from both the published database and the subscriber database(s) and automatically synchronized. Typically starts with a snapshot of the publication. Uses triggers to track subsequent changes made at either the publisher or subscriber." (Victor Isakov et al, "MCITP Administrator: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Optimization and Maintenance (70-444) Study Guide", 2007)

"A replication strategy used when multiple subscribers are also acting as publishers. In other words, the data is updated from multiple sources." (Darril Gibson, "MCITP SQL Server 2005 Database Developer All-in-One Exam Guide", 2008)

"A type of replication that allows sites to make autonomous changes to replicated data, and at a later time, merge changes and resolve conflicts when necessary." (Microsoft Technet)

"Merge replication is a method for copying and distributing data and database objects from one SQL Server database to another followed by synchronizing the databases for consistency." (Idera) [source]

🛢DBMS: Snapshot Replication (Definitions)

"A type of replication that takes a snapshot of current data in a publication at a Publisher and replaces the entire replica at a Subscriber on a periodic basis, in contrast to publishing changes when they occur." (Microsoft Corporation, "SQL Server 7.0 System Administration Training Kit", 1999)

"A type of replication that distributes data exactly as it appears at a specific moment in time and does not monitor for modifications made to the data." (Anthony Sequeira & Brian Alderman, "The SQL Server 2000 Book", 2003)

"A type of replication wherein data and database objects are distributed by copying published items via the Distributor and on to the Subscriber exactly as they appear at a specific moment in time. Snapshot replication provides the distribution of both data and structure (tables, indexes, and so on) on a scheduled basis. It may be thought of as a 'whole table refresh'. No updates to the source table are replicated until the next scheduled snapshot." (Thomas Moore, "EXAM CRAM™ 2: Designing and Implementing Databases with SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition", 2005)

"Replication type that relies on a snapshot of the entire article (table) to be automatically sent from a published database to the subscriber database(s). Distributes data exactly as it appears at a given time." (Marilyn Miller-White et al, "MCITP Administrator: Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005 Optimization and Maintenance 70-444", 2007)

"Replication type that relies on a snapshot of the entire article (table) to be automatically sent from a published database to the subscriber database(s). Distributes data exactly as it appears at a given time." (Victor Isakov et al, "MCITP Administrator: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Optimization and Maintenance (70-444) Study Guide", 2007)

"Replication of data taken at a moment of time. With snapshot replication, the entire data set is replicated at the same time." (Darril Gibson, "MCITP SQL Server 2005 Database Developer All-in-One Exam Guide", 2008)

"A replication in which data is distributed exactly as it appears at a specific moment in time and does not monitor for updates to the data." (Microsoft, 2012)

"Snapshot replication distributes data exactly as it appears at a specific moment in time and does not monitor for updates to the data." (Microsoft Technet)

🛢DBMS: Fragmentation (Definitions)

"Describes the effect to a database that is spread out in various pieces across multiple different devices. Fragmentation can also occur in a database in which the pages are not in physical order." (Owen Williams, "MCSE TestPrep: SQL Server 6.5 Design and Implementation", 1998)

"A condition that occurs when data modifications are made. You can reduce fragmentation and improve read-ahead performance by dropping and re-creating a clustered index. DBCC DBREINDEX, which can rebuild all of the indexes for a table in one statement, is often used to defragment tables." (Microsoft Corporation, "SQL Server 7.0 System Administration Training Kit", 1999)

"Fragmentation often occurs in databases when frequent or large data modifications are made. SQL Server 2000 provides methods for reducing fragmentation and improving read-ahead performance by dropping and re-creating a clustered index." (Anthony Sequeira & Brian Alderman, "The SQL Server 2000 Book", 2003)

"Occurs when data modifications are made. You can reduce fragmentation and improve read-ahead performance by dropping and re-creating a clustered index." (Thomas Moore, "EXAM CRAM™ 2: Designing and Implementing Databases with SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition", 2005)

"When a page fills with data, SQL Server must take half of the data from the full page and move it to a new page to make room for more data. When a new page is created, then the pages inside the database are no longer contiguous. This condition is called fragmentation ." (Joseph L Jorden & Dandy Weyn, "MCTS Microsoft SQL Server 2005: Implementation and Maintenance Study Guide - Exam 70-431", 2006)

"A process that occurs when data modifications are made. It is possible to reduce fragmentation and improve read-ahead performance by dropping and re-creating a clustered index." (Thomas Moore, "MCTS 70-431: Implementing and Maintaining Microsoft SQL Server 2005", 2006)

"A process that degrades performance because of data not being contiguous as a result of data being modified." (Victor Isakov et al, "MCITP Administrator: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Optimization and Maintenance (70-444) Study Guide", 2007)

"A doubly linked series of pages whose logical order does not equal the physical order." (Marilyn Miller-White et al, "MCITP Administrator: Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005 Optimization and Maintenance 70-444", 2007)

"In databases, indexes can be fragmented similar to how a hard drive can be fragmented. A fragmented index results in slower performance of the database. Fragmentation can be reduced by setting a fill factor on an index so it has empty space. Fragmented indexes can be defragmented by using REORGANIZE (keeps the index online) or by using REBUILD (which defaults to offline but can be run online)." (Darril Gibson, "MCITP SQL Server 2005 Database Developer All-in-One Exam Guide", 2008)

"The separation of the index into pieces as a result of inserts and deletions in the index." (Sybase, "Open Server Server-Library/C Reference Manual", 2019)