Codd's Rule for Relational DBMS

E.F Codd was a Computer Scientist who invented the Relational model for Database management. Based on relational model, the Relational database was created. Codd proposed 13 rules popularly known as Codd's 12 rules to test DBMS's concept against his relational model. Codd's rule actualy define what quality a DBMS requires in order to become a Relational Database Management System(RDBMS). Till now, there is hardly any commercial product that follows all the 13 Codd's rules. Even Oracle follows only eight and half(8.5) out of 13. The Codd's 12 rules are as follows.

Rule zero

This rule states that for a system to qualify as an RDBMS, it must be able to manage database entirely through the relational capabilities.

Rule 1: Information rule

All information(including metadata) is to be represented as stored data in cells of tables. The rows and columns have to be strictly unordered.

Rule 2: Guaranted Access

Each unique piece of data(atomic value) should be accesible by : Table Name + Primary Key(Row) + Attribute(column).

NOTE: Ability to directly access via POINTER is a violation of this rule.

Rule 3: Systematic treatment of NULL

Null has several meanings, it can mean missing data, not applicable or no value. It should be handled consistently. Also, Primary key must not be null, ever. Expression on NULL must give null.

Rule 4: Active Online Catalog

Database dictionary(catalog) is the structure description of the complete Database and it must be stored online. The Catalog must be governed by same rules as rest of the database. The same query language should be used on catalog as used to query database.

Rule 5: Powerful and Well-Structured Language

One well structured language must be there to provide all manners of access to the data stored in the database. Example: SQL, etc. If the database allows access to the data without the use of this language, then that is a violation.

Rule 6: View Updation Rule

All the view that are theoretically updatable should be updatable by the system as well.

Rule 7: Relational Level Operation

There must be Insert, Delete, Update operations at each level of relations. Set operation like Union, Intersection and minus should also be supported.

Rule 8: Physical Data Independence

The physical storage of data should not matter to the system. If say, some file supporting table is renamed or moved from one disk to another, it should not effect the application.

Rule 9: Logical Data Independence

If there is change in the logical structure(table structures) of the database the user view of data should not change. Say, if a table is split into two tables, a new view should give result as the join of the two tables. This rule is most difficult to satisfy.

Rule 10: Integrity Independence

The database should be able to enforce its own integrity rather than using other programs. Key and Check constraints, trigger etc, should be stored in Data Dictionary. This also make RDBMS independent of front-end.

Rule 11: Distribution Independence

A database should work properly regardless of its distribution across a network. Even if a database is geographically distributed, with data stored in pieces, the end user should get an impression that it is stored at the same place. This lays the foundation of distributed database.

Rule 12: Nonsubversion Rule

If low level access is allowed to a system it should not be able to subvert or bypass integrity rules to change the data. This can be achieved by some sort of looking or encryption.