In this paper we argue that representing entity properties by tuple attributes, as evangelized in most set-oriented data models, is a controversial method conflicting with the principle of tuple immutability. As a principled solution to this problem of tuple immutability on one hand and the need to modify tuple attributes on the other hand, we propose to use mathematical functions for representing entity properties. In this approach, immutable tuples are intended for representing the existence of entities while mutable functions (mappings between sets) are used for representing entity properties. In this model, called the concept-oriented model (COM), functions are made first-class elements along with sets, and both functions and sets are used to represent and process data in a simpler and more natural way in comparison to purely set-oriented models.

中文翻译：

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论功能在数据建模中的重要性

在本文中，我们认为，在大多数面向集合的数据模型中，用元组属性表示实体属性是一种有争议的方法，与元组不变性的原理相冲突。作为一方面解决该元组不变性问题，另一方面又需要修改元组属性的原则解决方案，我们建议使用数学函数表示实体属性。在这种方法中，不可变元组用于表示实体的存在，而可变函数（集合之间的映射）用于表示实体属性。在这个称为概念导向模型（COM）的模型中，函数与集合一起成为一等元素，