Efficient evaluation for a subset of recursive queries

AbstractWe consider the efficient evaluation of recursive queries in logic databases where the queries are expressed using a Datalog program (function-free Horn-clause program) that contains only regularly or linearly recursive predicates. Using well-known results on graph traversal, we develop an efficient algorithm for evaluating relations defined by a binary-chain program. We also present a transformation by which the evaluation of a subset of queries involving nonbinary relations can be reduced to the evaluation of binary-chain queries. This transformation is guided by the choice of bound arguments in the query, and the bindings are propagated through the program so that in the evaluation of the transformed program the bindings will be used to restrict the set of database facts consulted