relation
1. <mathematics> A subset of the product of two sets, R : A x B. If (a,
b) is an element of R then we write a R b, meaning a is related to b by R. A
relation may be: reflexive (a R a), symmetric (a R b => b R a), transitive (a R
b & b R c => a R c), antisymmetric (a R b & b R a => a = b) or total (a R b or b
R a).
See equivalence relation, partial ordering, pre-order, total ordering.
2. <database> A table in a relational database.
(1995-02-28)
Nearby terms:
reify « reincarnation, cycle of « reinvent the wheel
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relation » relational algebra » relational
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