Database Performance

Abstract

Online transaction processing (OLTP) applications define performance in terms of throughput. These applications must sometimes process millions of very small transactions per day. Decision support systems define performance in terms of response time. Demands on the database that are made by DSS applications vary between a query that fetches only a few records, or a massive query that fetches and sorts hundreds of thousands of records from different tables.

“Dear Mr. Churchill, my new play is opening in London and I am enclosing two tickets to the opening night performance. One ticket is for you, and one ticket is for a friend, if you have one.”

George Bernard Shaw

“Dear Mr. Shaw, I am very pleased that you sent me the two tickets to the opening night performance of your new play in London, but unfortunately I have another commitment that night and I won’t be able to be there, but I would be most pleased if you could send me two tickets to the second night’s performance, if there is one.”

Winston Churchill