Database management systems also support stored procedures in order to simplify and streamline
access to the data. Stored procedures are programs written in an extended version of SQL. They can be
invoked passing parameters, and they can return data to users or programs. Stored procedures have the
advantage of being precompiled for extra speed and fewer errors. A database programmer can put substantial
application logic into stored procedures, which can then be shared among users and application programs.
One can write programs to access databases in a very wide variety of languages. We discussed using JDBC
to access databases from the Java language. Other languages use similar techniques to connect to a database,
pass commands in SQL, and retrieve sets of data.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
8.1 Consider designing a database for an antique store. What entities would you include? What would their
attributes be?
8.2 Create a full ER diagram for the antique store mentioned in question 1. The store handles household
furnishings, jewelry, toys, and tools. The owner of the store owns most of what they have for sale, but
they handle some items on consignment (i.e., they sell the item for the owner, thus earning a commission
on the sale).
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