SQL Needed Structure
5 days ago
- #database
- #hierarchical-data
- #sql
- Data on IMDB pages is presented hierarchically, making it difficult to fit into a single flat structure like a relational database.
- Different pages present hierarchies in different orders (e.g., movie->actors vs. actor->movies), requiring bidirectional traversal of relationships.
- Storing data in relational databases requires transforming flat data into hierarchies for UI rendering, a process known as the 'object-relational mismatch.'
- SQL was not designed to produce hierarchical data, making this transformation tedious and error-prone.
- Modern SQL features allow for structured data output, improving efficiency by reducing network roundtrips and simplifying ORM usage.
- The evolution of SQL to meet modern demands, such as web UI rendering, is a natural progression from its original 1970s use cases.