Object Oriented Databases (OODBMS)

Introduction

Definition

• Object-oriented databases (OODBMS) are a type of database management system that stores data in the form of objects, encapsulating both data and methods (functions or procedures) that operate on that data.

Characteristics

• In OODBMS, data is stored as objects, resembling real-world entities, containing attributes (data) and methods (behavior).
• OODBMS supports encapsulation in which data and related functionality are embedded as a single structure that promotes modularity and reusability.
• OODBMS supports inheritance, allowing objects to inherit attributes and methods from other objects, enabling hierarchical relationships, and getting new objects.
• OODBMS allows complex data structures, such as arrays, lists, graphs, and trees, to be directly stored as objects.
• OODBMS uses object-oriented query languages like OQL (Object Query Language) to retrieve and manipulate data.
• Many modern databases use a hybrid approach, combining object-oriented features with relational databases (called Object-Relational Mapping – ORM) for flexibility and performance.

Advantages

• OODBMS models the Real-World Entities i.e., this database aligns closely with object-oriented programming paradigms, making it easier to represent real-world entities and relationships.
• OODBMS improves the modularity i.e., encapsulation allows for modular and reusable code, enhancing maintainability and extensibility.
• OODBMS supports handling Complex Data i.e., it is capable of storing complex data structures and relationships more naturally than traditional relational databases.
• OODBMS provides seamless interaction with real-world entities when used with object-oriented programming languages.

Disadvantages

• The adoption of OODBMS has been limited compared to traditional relational databases due to various challenges and evolving trends in data storage technologies.
• Unlike RDBMS, OODBMS adoption has been relatively limited.
• Implementing and querying complex object structures are comparatively complex and hence performance is affected.
• OODBMS interoperability with non-object-oriented systems and applications is comparatively difficult.

Common Examples

• ObjectDB: An open-source OODBMS for Java developers that stores objects natively.
• Versant Object Database: A commercial OODBMS designed for high performance and scalability.