The document discusses various techniques for processing database queries, including:
- Basic steps in query processing: parsing, optimization, and evaluation. Optimization involves choosing the most efficient evaluation plan from equivalent options.
- Measures for estimating query cost, primarily focusing on disk I/O like block transfers and seeks.
- Algorithms for different relational algebra operations like selection, sorting, and join. Selection algorithms include file scan, use of indexes, and handling complex conditions. Sorting algorithms include building an index versus external sort-merge. Join algorithms include nested-loop, block nested-loop, and merge-join.