Hector Garcia-Molina, Jeffrey D. Ullman, and Jennifer Widom, well-known computer scientists at Stanford University, have written an introduction to database systems with a comprehensive approach. The first half of the book provides in-depth coverage of databases from the point of view of the database designer, user, and application programmer. It covers the latest database standards SQL-1999, SQL/PSM, SQL/CLI, JDBC, ODL, and XML, with broader coverage of SQL than most other texts. The second half of the book provides in-depth coverage of databases from the point of view of the DBMS implementor. It focuses on management, covering the principal techniques in these areas with broader coverage of query optimization than most other texts. Advanced topics include multidimensional and bitmap indexes, distributed transactions, and information integration techniques. This comprehensive book is valuable either as an academic textbook or as a professional reference book.

• Offers a readable presentation with engaging, real-world examples. Includes aspects of SQL programming not found in some other texts: SQL/PSM (persistent stored modules), JDBC (Java interface), and SQL/CLI (ODBC, or open database connectivity).
• Introduces both object-oriented design, through the ODMG standard ODL, and object-relational design from the SQL-99 standard.
• Provides extensive coverage of query processing and query optimization, supported by an extended relational algebra that is designed to match the real features of SQL. Covers information integration, including warehousing, mediators, OLAP, data cubes, and data-mining techniques.
• Explains many important, specialized topics, such as error-correction in RAID disks, bitmap indexes, use of data statistics, and pointer swizzling.
• Supported by additional teaching materials on the book's home page at http://www-db.stanford.edu/~ullman/dscb.html.

JEFFREY D. ULLMAN is the Stanford W. Ascherman Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University. He is the author or co-author of 16 books, including Elements of ML Programming (Prentice Hall 1998). His research interests include data mining, information integration, and electronic education. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award, the SIGMOD Contributions Award, and the Knuth Prize.

JENNIFER WIDOM is Associate Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. Her research interests include query processing on data streams, data caching and replication, semistructured data and XML, and data warehousing. She is a former Guggenheim Fellow and has served on numerous program committees, advisory boards, and editorial boards.

HECTOR GARCIA-MOLINA is the L. Bosack and S. Lerner Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, and Chair of the Department of Computer Science at Stanford University. His research interests include digital libraries, information integration, and database application on the Internet. He was a recipient of the SIGMOD Innovations Award and is a member of PITAC (President's Information-Technology Advisory Council).