Oracle Corporation
OPTIMIZING GRAPH QUERIES BY PERFORMING EARLY PRUNING

Abstract:

Techniques are described herein for early pruning of potential graph query results. Specifically, based on determining that property values of a path through graph data cannot affect results of a query, the path is pruned from a set of potential query solutions prior to fully exploring the path. Early solution pruning is performed on prunable queries that project prunable functions including MIN, MAX, SUM, and DISTINCT, the results of which are not tied to a number of paths explored for query execution. A database system implements early solution pruning for a prunable query based on intermediate results maintained for the query during query execution. Specifically, when a system determines that property values of a given potential solution path cannot affect the query results reflected in intermediate results maintained for the query, the path is discarded from the set of possible query solutions without further exploration of the path.