What Is a Temporal Database?

Temporal database, also known as temporal database or temporal database , is a database with built-in time characteristics. A temporal database is used with a temporal data model and a structured query language with a temporal version.

Data is an important part of data content. The semantic consideration of data in a relational database is the basis for the correlation between the data. For example, the design of a relational schema (standardization) in a relational database is the basic embodiment of the semantic exploration of relational data. It is also necessary to consider the semantics of time in temporal data. This is also called the time dimension of the data in a temporal data system. ^[1]

At present, the temporal data query language mainly consists of the following three types.

According to whether to deal with temporal attributes, application systems can be divided into traditional application systems (non-temporal application systems) and temporal application systems. The temporal database application mode is a technical way to provide temporal data processing in the temporal application system. According to the system's handling of temporal attributes and capabilities, temporal database application models can be divided into the following three scenarios:

1. Full temporal application mode This is an application system developed based on a temporal database system. It provides complete support for temporal data processing. It is characterized by the use of a temporal database management system TDBMS at the bottom of the system. At present, there is no commercial product of TDBMS, and each mainstream database management system does not support the function of temporal data management.

2. The embedded temporal application mode implements the temporal data processing function in the application system through some temporal processing development tools and real-time middleware, which is characterized by the use of a traditional DBMS at the bottom of the system. Developing such patterns requires the support of temporal processing tool software.

3. The hybrid temporal application mode realizes the application system's support for temporal attribute operations by combining temporal data processing technology and application information technology. It is characterized by the use of a traditional DBMS at the bottom of the system. Currently, most temporal applications belong to this mode ^[2] .