Practical algorithm for evaluating database queries

This paper describes an algorithm for evaluating database queries represented as expressions in a logical language. Such a database query expression can be evaluated efficiently by focusing on the variable dependencies. The algorithm recursively computes the values of subexpressions to evaluate the input expression, but it avoids re-evaluation of those subexpressions whose values are not affected by new variable assignments. The input expression is internally structured as a directed acyclic graph. Two additional techniques to improve efficiency of the evaluation are discussed: transformations of the input expression and special primitive database operations. Finally, its implementation in the natural language question-answering system SPICOS is described.