Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes data descriptions of data in a database. The data descriptions include baseviews and metaviews. The baseviews reference specific portions of the actual database schema while the metaviews provide descriptions of baseviews. Each baseview includes specific references to specific columns in tables stored in the database.

Abstract: A deferred transaction mechanism facilitates multi-threaded operation of database application programs. The deferred transaction mechanism allows data items to be committed from the local memory of a computer system to a database system in a background thread, while other foreground threads continue to read the data item. In most instances, this makes the delay in committing a data item to the database imperceptible to a human user of a database application program. The deferred transaction mechanism further supports an "undo" feature, which allows modifications to a data item located in a computer's local memory to be rapidly discarded.