Answering Queries Using Views, Second Edition

Core theory for answering queries with views

Answering Queries Using Views, Second Edition is a compact, research-oriented treatment of one of the most important ideas in database theory: how stored views can be used to answer queries efficiently and correctly. Written by Foto Afrati and Rada Chirkova, the book brings together the foundational material behind query containment, query rewriting, equivalent and maximally contained rewritings, and certain answers in data integration and data exchange.

Because the subject sits close to query optimization, data warehousing, and database-as-a-service, the book speaks to readers who want the conceptual backbone rather than a quick overview. It is especially useful for anyone who works with relational query languages and wants a more formal understanding of how view-based reasoning works in practice.

What the book focuses on

• query containment and its role in view-based reasoning
• rewriting queries using views in several logical settings
• equivalent rewritings and maximally contained rewritings
• certain answers in data-integration and data-exchange contexts
• SQL fragments, including conjunctive and aggregate queries

Why this edition stands out

Second editions in technical series often signal a refined presentation, and this volume is no exception. The book is designed to assemble foundational work into a self-contained path through the subject, making it easier to see how the pieces fit together instead of encountering the theory as scattered papers and isolated results.

For readers working in databases and data management

This title will be most relevant to database researchers, graduate students, and practitioners with a strong interest in query processing, logical query languages, and the theory behind view-based optimization. If your work touches data integration, data warehousing, or relational query reasoning, it offers a focused and durable reference point.

Series context

Published in the Synthesis Lectures on Data Management series, the book reflects the series’ concise research-lecture format: compact, technical, and built around a single theme with enough depth to support serious study.