Building Web Databases
Tools and Techniques for Web Database Developers
By Ken North
Web developers looking to SQL databases as a source for active content must consider that the users behind the browsers are engaged in disparate activities ranging from order processing to decision-support queries to time-series analysis. Furthermore, the model has changed: Client/server applications have a front and back end, while the common thread for Web projects is a browser front end, Web pages, HTML, and search engines. Although the methods for delivering content are similar, the "under-the-covers" data-access technologies may vary greatly because developers must tailor the database solution to the problem at hand. Some developers are putting up databases to permit World Wide Web users to search catalogs, shop for auto insurance, or order smoked fish. Others are marrying Web techniques with client/server SQL technology to provide workgroup, departmental, and enterprise databases. Factors such as parallel processing and commodity hardware are also driving the demand for access to data warehouses.
Programming database applications built with Web technology raises several technical issues. HTML, the language used to format most Web pages, doesn't easily support data-validation concepts such as required fields. The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) used to present Web pages is stateless. An HTTP application typically connects, generates a GET request, and disconnects, whereas database applications often require persistent connections.
This article describes current approaches to data access and discusses the many tools available to database developers.
