A
administrator
A special user responsible for allocating resources to a community of users.
Access Module Processor (AMP)
A virtual processor that receives steps from a parsing engine (PE) and performs database functions to retrieve or update data. Each AMP is associated with one virtual disk, where the data is stored. An AMP manages only its own virtual disk and not the virtual disk of any other AMP.
access rights
See privilege.
AMP
See Access Module Processor (AMP).
ANSI
American National Standards Institute. ANSI maintains a standard for SQL. Go to http://www.info.teradata.com for information about Teradata compliance with ANSI standards.
application
A complete, self-contained program that performs a specific function directly for the user. Contrast this to system software (two examples of system software are operating system kernels and libraries) which exists to support applications.
Application Programming Interface (API)
An interface (calling conventions) by which an application accesses an operating system and other services. An API is defined at source code level and provides a level of abstraction between the application and the kernel (or other privileged utilities) to ensure the portability of the code.
An API can also provide an interface between a high‑level language and lower‑level utilities and services written without consideration for the calling conventions supported by compiled languages. In this case, the API may translate the parameter lists from one format to another and interpret call-by-value and call-by-reference arguments in one or both directions.
B
Basic Teradata Query (BTEQ)
A CLI application program used to interact with the Teradata Relational Database Management System (RDBMS). BTEQ commands are used for controlling sessions, submitting Teradata SQL requests, formatting results, and handling output data. BTEQ may also be used to verify the installation of Teradata client utilities.
C
Call-Level Interface Version 2 (CLIv2)
Specifically for network-attached clients, a collection of callable service routines that provide an interface to the Teradata Database. Specifically, CLI is the interface between the application program and the Micro Teradata Directory Program (for network-attached clients). CLI builds parcels that MTDP packages for sending to the Teradata Database using the Micro Operating System Interface (MOSI) and provides the application with a pointer to each of the parcels returned from the Teradata Database.
column
In the relational model of Teradata SQL, databases consist of one or more tables. In turn, each table consists of fields, organized into one or more columns by zero or more rows. All of the fields of a given column share the same attributes.
cost
This is the outlay of database resources used by a given query.
D
data definition
The statements and facilities that manipulate database structures and the Data Dictionary information kept about these structures. These statements include CREATE, DROP, ALTER, and MODIFY.
Data Definition Language (DDL)
In Teradata SQL, the statements and facilities that manipulate database structures (such as CREATE, MODIFY, DROP, GRANT, REVOKE, and GIVE) and the dictionary information kept about those structures. In the typical, pre-relational data management system, data definition and data manipulation facilities are separated, and the data definition facilities are less flexible and more difficult to use than in a relational system.
Data Dictionary
In the Teradata Database, the information automatically maintained about all tables, views, macros, databases, and users known to the Teradata Database system. It includes information about ownership, space allocation, accounting, and access right relationships between those objects. Data Dictionary information is updated automatically during the processing of Teradata SQL data definition statements. It is used by the parser to obtain information needed to process all Teradata SQL statements.
database
A related set of tables that share a common space allocation and owner. A collection of objects that provide a logical grouping for information. The objects include, tables, views, macros, triggers, and stored procedures.
DBS
Acronym for Database System or Database Software.
DBS Control information
DBS Control information is a group of fields used by Teradata Database for debugging and diagnostic purposes, establishing known global system values, and conducting performance tuning.
driver
In Teradata PT, the term that refers to combination of the operators from the Teradata PT product and application programming interface program code.
E
endianness
The byte ordering convention of data that is represented with multiple bytes. Big-endian is an order in which the “big end” (most significant value in the sequence) is stored first (at the lowest storage address). Little-endian is an order in which the “little end” (least significant value in the sequence) is stored first. For example, in a big-endian computer, the number 256 is indicated as 0x01 0x00. In a little-endian computer, the number 256 is indicated as 0x00 0x01.
export
This refers to extracting or transferring system information from the tables and views of a given Teradata Database and saving it so it can be manipulated or pulled into another system.
Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC)
A character encoding used on IBM mainframe systems.
F
field
The basic unit of information stored in the Teradata Database. A field is either null, or has a single numeric or string value. Also see column, row, and table.
I
ICU
An acronym for a library of routines that handle Unicode UTF16/UTF8 session character sets.
import
The process of pulling system information into a program. To add system information from an external source to another system. The system receiving the data must support the internal format or structure of the data.
J
join
A SELECT operation that combines information from two or more tables to produce a result.
L
log
A record of events. A file that records events. Many programs produce log files. Often you will look at a log file to determine what is happening when problems occur. Log files have the extension “.log”.
M
macro
A set of Teradata SQL statements stored by the Teradata Database and executed by a single EXECUTE statement. Each macro execution is implicitly treated as a transaction.
N
name
A word supplied by the user that refers to an object, such as a column, database, macro, table, user, or view.
null
The absence of a value for a field.
O
object
In object-oriented programming, a unique instance of a data structure defined according to the template provided by its class. Each object has its own values for the variables belonging to its class and can respond to the messages, or methods, defined by its class.
object definition
The details of the structure and instances of the objects used by a given query. Object definitions are used to create the tables, views, and macros, triggers, join indexes, and stored procedures in a database.
operator
The term used in the Teradata Parallel Transporter (Teradata PT) product to describe the modules of code responsible for handling particular tasks usually relating to one of the Teradata Database protocols. These operators reside in dynamically-linked libraries.
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)
Under ODBC, drivers are used to connect applications with databases. The ODBC driver processes ODBC calls from an application, but passes SQL requests to the Teradata Database for processing.
P
parameter
A variable name in a macro for which an argument value is substituted when the macro is executed.
privilege
In Teradata SQL, a user’s right to perform the Teradata SQL statements granted to him or her against a table, database, user, macro, or view. Also know as access right.
production system
A Teradata Database used in a live environment. A system that is actively used for day to day business operations. This differs from a test or development system that is used to create new queries or test new features before using them on the production system.
R
random AMP sample (RAS)
An arbitrary sample from an Access Module Processor (AMP). These are samples of the tables in a query or all of the tables in a given database. Also known as RAS.
Relational Database Management System (RDBMS)
A database management system in which complex data structures are represented as simple two-dimensional tables consisting of columns and rows. For Teradata, RDBMS is referred to as Teradata Database.
request
In host software, a message sent from an application program to the Teradata Database.
result
The information returned to the user to satisfy a request made of the Teradata Database.
row
The fields that represent one entry under each column in a table. The row is the smallest unit of information operated on by data manipulation statements.
S
session
Also called a Teradata Database session. A session begins when the user logs on to Teradata Database and ends when the user logs off Teradata Database. In client software, a logical connection between an application program on a host and Teradata Database. The connection permits the application program to send one request at a time to and receive one response at a time from Teradata.
statement
A request for processing by the Teradata Database that consists of a keyword verb, optional phrases, and operands. It is processed as a single entity.
statistics
These are the details of the processes used to collect, analyze, and transform the database objects used by a given query.
Standard Template Library (STL)
Standard Template Library is a software library of C++ algorithms, container classes and iterators. It is available on most platforms. Teradata PT uses features in the STL. The C++ Standard Library is defined by ISO/IEC 14882.
Structured Query Language Call-Level Interface (SQL/CLI)
A programming interface designed to support SQL access to databases from shrink-wrapped application programs. SQL/CLI provides and international standard implementation-independent CLI to access SQL databases. Client-server tools can easily access database through dynamic link libraries. It supports and encourages a rich set of client-server tools.
stored procedure
A combination of SQL statements and control and conditional handling statements that run using a single call statement. Teradata Version 2 Release 4 and later supports stored procedures. Combinations of procedural and non‑procedural statements run using a single call statement.
T
table
A two-dimensional structure made up of one or more columns with zero or more rows that consist of fields of related information. See also target table.
test system
A Teradata Database where you want to import Optimizer-specific information to emulate a target system and create new queries or test new features.
target table
For the Load, Update, and Stream drivers, the target table is the table on a Teradata Database which will receive the data and/or contains data to be modified. For the Export driver, the target table is the table from which the data will be extracted.
Teradata Extract and Load Application Programming Interface (TELAPI)
This is the former name of Teradata PT.
Teradata Parallel Data Pump (TPump)
A utility that provides an alternative to MultiLoad for the low volume batch maintenance of large databases under control of a Teradata Database. TPump enables acquisition of all data from the client with low processor utilization.
test system
A Teradata Database where you want to import Optimizer-specific information to emulate a target system and create new queries or test new features.
trigger
One or more Teradata SQL statements associated with a table and executed when specified conditions are met.
U
user
A database associated with a person who uses the Teradata Database. The database stores the person’s private information and accesses other Teradata Databases.
V
view
An alternate way of organizing and presenting information in the Teradata Database. A view, like a table, has rows and columns. However, the rows and columns of a view are not directly stored by the Teradata Database. They are derived from the rows and columns of tables (or other views) whenever the view is referenced.