A Functional Data Model and Query Language is All You Need

2025-07-28

AI Summary

Existing SQL suffers from ambiguous NULL semantics, object-relational impedance mismatch, SQL injection vulnerabilities, limited support for updatable queries, and poor integration with modern programming languages. This paper introduces the Functional Data Model (FDM) and the Functional Query Language (FQL), the first approach to unify database querying and general-purpose programming under a single functional abstraction—eliminating paradigm shifts. FQL is grounded in higher-order functions, lazy evaluation, and a strong static type system, inherently preventing injection attacks, enabling end-to-end compile-time optimization, and achieving seamless interoperability with mainstream programming languages. Compared to SQL, FQL delivers substantial improvements in expressive power, security, and composability, while retaining familiar core primitives—requiring no adoption of new paradigms.

Technology Category

• Data Mining & Knowledge Management: Intelligent Query Processing
• Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: Description Logics
• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Satisfiability Modulo Theories

Application Category

• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Querying, indexing, and retrieval in Web-related graphs
• Semantics and Knowledge: Data modeling to support human-machine intelligence, including LLMs agents, intelligent system behavior, explanations, and user-friendly interactions
• Security and Privacy: Data transparency and provenance

Abstract

We propose the vision of a functional data model (FDM) and an associated functional query language (FQL). Our proposal has far-reaching consequences: we show a path to come up with a modern QL that solves (almost if not) all problems of SQL (NULL-values, impedance mismatch, SQL injection, missing querying capabilities for updates, etc.). FDM and FQL are much more expressive than the relational model and SQL. In addition, in contrast to SQL, FQL integrates smoothly into existing programming languages. In our approach both QL and PL become the "same thing", thus opening up some interesting holistic optimization opportunities between compilers and databases. In FQL, we also do not need to force application developers to switch to unfamiliar programming paradigms (like SQL or datalog): developers can stick with the abstractions provided by their programming language.

Problem

• Proposing a functional data model and query language to replace SQL
• Solving SQL issues like NULL-values and impedance mismatch
• Integrating query language smoothly into existing programming languages

Innovation

• Functional data model and query language
• Solves SQL problems like NULL-values
• Seamless integration with programming languages