Home:Products:XQuery Engine:Architecture

DataDirect XQuery® Product Architecture Overview

As a native XML query language, XQuery was designed to simplify data integration, local XML processing, and XML reporting. DataDirect XQuery® is an implementation of XQuery that can query XML, relational data, SOAP messages, EDI, or a combination of data sources. It provides fast, reliable and scalable XQuery support for all major relational databases and runs on any Java platform.

DataDirect XQuery® implements the XQuery for Java API (XQJ), and is easily embeddable into any Java program—it installs just like a JDBC driver, does not require any other product or application server, and has no server of its own. But DataDirect XQuery can also be used with any J2EE Application Server.

DataDirect XQuery® is highly optimized for relational data, can handle very large XML inputs and outputs, and can be used with DataDirect's XML Converters to query non-XML formats such as EDI. DataDirect XQuery® is recommended for applications dealing with XML, relational, and legacy formats, including data integration, XML-based data exchange, web services, XML-driven web sites, XML pipelines, and XML publishing. This section describes DataDirect XQuery®'s product architecture in detail, including coverage of the following topics:

DataDirect XQuery® Architecture

DataDirect XQuery® provides fast, reliable and scalable XQuery support for all major relational databases and runs on any Java platform. Our DataDirect XQuery® Architecture page provides more details and informative illustrations.

Key Features

DataDirect XQuery® is a highly-optimized processor for managing relational database data integration challenges. But did you know it can also handle EDI and legacy data with equal ease?

Relational Database Support

DataDirect XQuery® supports all the leading relational databases — like Oracle, SQL Server, and Sybase, to name just a few. And you can use the XQuery for Java (XQJ) API to write applications that can access any database your customer has.

Performance and Scalability for Relational Data

DataDirect XQuery® out-performs traditional XML API in most data integration applications. Try it and see — download and test DataDirect XQuery® in your own environment.

Working with XML Input and Output

DataDirect XQuery® uses XML document projection and streaming optimization techniques to successfully manage XML documents many Gigabytes in size. Using these and other techniques, you can query documents significantly larger than available RAM.

Calling Java or SQL Functions from XQuery

DataDirect XQuery® lets you call Java methods and SQL functions. Now you can easily invoke a Web service call or a stored procedure — even if that function is not part of the XQuery function library.

Custom URI Resolvers

Does your program require that resources be located in custom repositories, convert some resource to XML on the fly, or do some other magic that is not built in to DataDirect XQuery®? No worries — with DataDirect XQuery® custom URI resolvers lets you take advantage of data stored in any file system.

Using XML Converters

Using DataDirect's XML Converters, you can convert plain-text and binary formats to XML on the fly, allowing them to be queried using DataDirect XQuery®. Converters are available for EDI messages (X12, EDIFACT, and IATA) and other formats like tab-delimited, comma-separated value, dBase files, and more.

Making SOAP Requests from DataDirect XQuery®

Did you know DataDirect XQuery® can use the ws:call() function to make SOAP requests? This feature allows you to easily tap into the hundreds of Web services available on the Internet and harness their data for your XML applications.

XML Tools Support for DataDirect XQuery®

Stylus Studio® 2007 XML Enterprise Suite, DataDirect's award-winning XML IDE is just one of the XML application development tools that complements DataDirect XQuery®. A plug-in for the popular Eclipse platform is also available.

Comparison to Other XQuery Implementations

DataDirect XQuery® offers unsurpassed access to heterogenous data as XML, support for multiple environments for XQuery execution, and a thorough and robust XQuery implementation. Add to that performance, scalability, and competent and responsive support, and we're confident you'll choose DataDirect XQuery®.