Complexity of Evaluating GQL Queries

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Figueira, Diego, Lin, Anthony W., Peterfreund, Liat
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Figueira, Diego
Lin, Anthony W.
Peterfreund, Liat
author_facet Figueira, Diego
Lin, Anthony W.
Peterfreund, Liat
contents GQL has recently emerged as the standard query language over graph databases (particularly, the property graph model). Indeed, this is analogous to the role of SQL for relational databases. Unlike SQL, however, fundamental problems regarding GQL are hitherto still unsolved, most notably the complexity of query evaluation. In this paper we provide a complete solution to this problem. In particular, we show that the data complexity of GQL is $\text{P}^{\text{NP}[\log]}$-complete in general, and is $\text{NL}$-complete, when the so-called ``restrictors'' are disallowed. Using techniques from embedded finite model theory, we show that this is true, even when the queries use data from infinite concrete domains (for example the domain of real numbers where arithmetic is allowed in the query). In proving these results, we establish and exploit tight connections between GQL and query languages over relational databases, especially the extension of relational calculus with transitive closure operators, and a fragment of second-order logic.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2407_06766
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Complexity of Evaluating GQL Queries
Figueira, Diego
Lin, Anthony W.
Peterfreund, Liat
Databases
GQL has recently emerged as the standard query language over graph databases (particularly, the property graph model). Indeed, this is analogous to the role of SQL for relational databases. Unlike SQL, however, fundamental problems regarding GQL are hitherto still unsolved, most notably the complexity of query evaluation. In this paper we provide a complete solution to this problem. In particular, we show that the data complexity of GQL is $\text{P}^{\text{NP}[\log]}$-complete in general, and is $\text{NL}$-complete, when the so-called ``restrictors'' are disallowed. Using techniques from embedded finite model theory, we show that this is true, even when the queries use data from infinite concrete domains (for example the domain of real numbers where arithmetic is allowed in the query). In proving these results, we establish and exploit tight connections between GQL and query languages over relational databases, especially the extension of relational calculus with transitive closure operators, and a fragment of second-order logic.
title Complexity of Evaluating GQL Queries
topic Databases
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.06766