Active Database is a database consisting of set of triggers. These databases are very difficult to be maintained because of the complexity that arises in understanding the effect of these triggers. In such database, DBMS initially verifies whether the particular trigger specified in the statement that modifies the database) is activated or not, prior to executing the statement.
An active database is a database that includes an event-driven architecture (often in the form of ECA rules) which can respond to conditions both inside and outside the database. Possible uses include security monitoring, alerting, statistics gathering and authorization.
If the trigger is active then DBMS executes the condition part and then executes the action part only if the specified condition is evaluated to true. It is possible to activate more than one trigger within a single statement.
In such situation, DBMS processes each of the trigger randomly. The execution of an action part of a trigger may either activate other triggers or the same trigger that Initialized this action. Such types of trigger that activates itself is called as ‘recursive trigger’. The DBMS executes such chains of trigger in some pre-defined manner but it effects the concept of understanding.
Features of Active Database:
- It supports all the functions of a traditional database like data definition, data manipulation, storage management etc.
- It possess all the concepts of a conventional database i.e. data modelling facilities, query language etc.
- It supports definition and management of ECA rules.
- It must be able to evaluate conditions and to execute actions.
- It detects event occurrence.
- It means that it has to implement rule execution.
Advantages:
- Enable a uniform and centralized description of the business rules relevant to the information system.
- Enhances traditional database functionalities with powerful rule processing capabilities.
- Suitable platform for building large and efficient knowledge base and expert systems.
- Avoids redundancy of checking and repair operations.