Abstract: The subject technology receives a query, the query referencing a unified representation for structured type data and semi-structured type data, the unified representation being provided in storage and in memory during query processing, the unified representation comprising a set of structured type fields that include a set of semi-structured typed fields that enables type safety and enforcement for the set of structured type fields, and flexibility for the set of semi-structured typed fields in a same column, the unified representation in storage including type information for the semi-structured type data as part of the semi-structured type data, the unified representation being utilized for structured type data and semi-structured type data. The subject technology processes the query using the unified representation stored in the memory, the unified representation providing performance parity between structured type data and semi-structured type data.

Abstract: The subject technology receives a query, the query referencing a unified representation for structured type data and semi-structured type data, the unified representation being provided in storage and in memory during query processing, the unified representation comprising a set of structured type fields that include a set of semi-structured typed fields that enables type safety and enforcement for the set of structured type fields, and flexibility for the set of semi-structured typed fields in a same column, the unified representation in storage including type information for the semi-structured type data as part of the semi-structured type data, the unified representation being utilized for structured type data and semi-structured type data. The subject technology processes the query using the unified representation stored in the memory, the unified representation providing performance parity between structured type data and semi-structured type data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating object references with selectable scopes are provided. The systems and methods perform operations including calling, by a first entity, a reference generator function using one or more arguments associated with a database object that the first entity is authorized to access according to a first set of access privileges, the one or more arguments comprising a scope definition that defines persistence of a reference. The operations include obtaining, from the reference generator function, a reference to the database object, the reference persisting according to the scope definition. The operations include passing the reference to a second entity to enable the second entity to perform one or more database operations on the database object according to a second set of access privileges derived from the first set of access privileges.