Hypertree Decompositions

Abstract

In the database context, the hypertree decomposition method is used for query optimization, whereby conjunctive queries having a low degree of cyclicity can be recognized and decomposed automatically, and efficiently evaluated. Hypertree decompositions were introduced at ACM PODS 1999. The present paper reviews' in form of questions and answers' the main relevant concepts and algorithms and surveys selected related work including applications and test results.