Data manipulation within a structured data repository often involves computational processes on stored values. For example, deriving the average sales revenue from a sales table, determining the total inventory value, or calculating the distance between two geographical points stored within the database are all common operations. These operations leverage various functions and operators provided by the database management system (DBMS).
The ability to perform these operations directly within the database offers significant advantages. It reduces data transfer overhead, improves processing speed, and leverages the optimized computational capabilities of the DBMS. Historically, complex computations often required extracting data and processing it separately. Modern database systems provide powerful functionality that allows for complex computations to be performed within the database itself, leading to greater efficiency and streamlined data workflows. This empowers businesses to gain insights faster and make data-driven decisions more effectively.