Based on the ubiquitous Berkeley DB, Berkeley DB XML is a new database that stores, retrieves, indexes, and searches XML documents. Better yet, you can embed Berkeley BD XML in almost any application. Roll up your sleeves for this hands-on introduction.
The idea of a database designed explicitly to store XML has been around for a few years now. Back in 1999, Software AG made the first large-scale attempt to build such a database with Tamino. Software AG called Tamino a “native XML database” — a database that stores all components of the XML intact.
Since the release of Tamino, many other native XML databases have come to market. The newest one is Berkeley DB XML from Sleepycat Software, makers of the ubiquitous Berkeley DB. While Berkeley DB XML is a new, native XML database, it uses Berkeley DB as its foundation. That means Berkeley DB XML comes out of the box with robust database features that have been tested and proven in a great many real-world applications. If your application uses XML extensively, Berkeley DB XML is a perfect solution for persisting your data.
Like Berkeley DB, Berkeley DB XML is released under the Sleepycat Open Source license, so it can be used without charge to build Open Source applications. Also like Berkeley DB, and unlike most other native XML databases, Berkeley DB XML is an embedded database, meaning that it’s linked directly to your application — no server to talk to, no wires, no mapping — just XML documents in and XML documents out.
XML Databases
Even though native XML databases have been around for about five years, they’re still a novelty to many developers. In general, a native XML database:
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