Database management systems (DBMSs) have become a very important software facility for a number of information systems applications. DBMSs in their current form are inadequate for computer-aided design, expert systems, statistical applications, and advanced text processing (hypertext). They do not have hierarchical structured objects or the required additional data types and manipulation operators.

This paper describes an approach that integrates object-oriented and functional programming concepts. The authors combined referential transparency with encapsulation and inheritance to create the Object Oriented Functional Data Language (O²FDL). The paper describes the syntax and semantics of O²FDL, which includes new concepts of classes, type systems, and expressions. A number of system-defined functions, data-defined functions, and other special functions are included in O²FDL. All the concepts are illustrated using a typical university database.

I recommend this original work on enhancing DBMS applications to research workers and graduate students. It will interest software engineers closely associated with relational DBMSs, query languages, and DBMS applications. New areas of DBMS apart from information systems have great potential with enhanced facilities such as those described in this paper. Such applications will become practical in the near future.