Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating and maintaining a computer database using a virtual index system. The database of the present invention is organized as a hierarchical, tree-like structure. At the most basic level, the hierarchy consists of data objects. The intermediate levels of the hierarchy group the data objects into object classes. Each object class is allocated a class descriptor table having one entry for each class member. Each entry is a poly radix bit string which describes the corresponding data object and may be hashed to return a pointer to the data object. The top level of the hierarchy is a global object table containing one entry for each object class. Each entry is a poly radix bit string which contains data which describes a particular object class and may be hashed to return a pointer to the instance table associated with the object class.