| Goal | This query identifies a semantic mismatch between a column's name and its data type. It flags base table columns that adhere to a predicate-based naming convention (i.e., starting with is_, has_, can_, or on_) but are not defined with the BOOLEAN data type. This is a design flaw as it forces developers to infer and manage truthiness through other types (e.g., INTEGER, CHAR(1)), which undermines schema clarity, requires data type coercion in queries, and can compromise data integrity by permitting non-boolean states. |
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| Notes | The query assumes that the names are using snake_case style. The query considers both column names in English and Estonian. |
| Type | Problem detection (Each row in the result could represent a flaw in the design) |
| Reliability | Medium (Medium number of false-positive results) |
| License | MIT (opens in new tab) |
| Fixing Suggestion | Specify for each column a right data type that takes into account expected values in the column. Use Boolean type instead of emulating it based on some other data type. Change the column type to BOOLEAN. |
| Data Source | INFORMATION_SCHEMA+system catalog |
| SQL Query |
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Collections
This query belongs to the following collections:
Find problems about base tables
A selection of queries that return information about the data types, field sizes, default values as well as general structure of base tables. Contains all the types of queries - problem detection, software measure, and general overview
Find problems about integrity constraints
A selection of queries that return information about the state of integrity constraints in the datadabase. Contains all the types of queries - problem detection, software measure, and general overview
Find problems automatically
Queries, that results point to problems in the database. Each query in the collection produces an initial assessment. However, a human reviewer has the final say as to whether there is a problem or not .
Lexicon bad smells and linguistic antipatterns
Queries made to find the occurrences of lexicon bad smells and linguistic antipatterns
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Find problems about base tables | A selection of queries that return information about the data types, field sizes, default values as well as general structure of base tables. Contains all the types of queries - problem detection, software measure, and general overview |
| Find problems about integrity constraints | A selection of queries that return information about the state of integrity constraints in the datadabase. Contains all the types of queries - problem detection, software measure, and general overview |
| Find problems automatically | Queries, that results point to problems in the database. Each query in the collection produces an initial assessment. However, a human reviewer has the final say as to whether there is a problem or not . |
| Lexicon bad smells and linguistic antipatterns | Queries made to find the occurrences of lexicon bad smells and linguistic antipatterns |
Categories
This query is classified under the following categories:
Boolean data
Queries of this category provide information about truth-values data that is kept in the database.
Data types
Queries of this category provide information about the data types and their usage.
Naming
Queries of this category provide information about the style of naming.
Result quality depends on names
Queries of this category use names (for instance, column names) to try to guess the meaning of a database object. Thus, the goodness of names determines the number of false positive and false negative results.
Validity and completeness
Queries of this category provide information about whether database design represents the world (domain) correctly (validity) and whether database design captures all the information about the world (domain) that is correct and relevant (completeness).
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Boolean data | Queries of this category provide information about truth-values data that is kept in the database. |
| Data types | Queries of this category provide information about the data types and their usage. |
| Naming | Queries of this category provide information about the style of naming. |
| Result quality depends on names | Queries of this category use names (for instance, column names) to try to guess the meaning of a database object. Thus, the goodness of names determines the number of false positive and false negative results. |
| Validity and completeness | Queries of this category provide information about whether database design represents the world (domain) correctly (validity) and whether database design captures all the information about the world (domain) that is correct and relevant (completeness). |
Further reading and related materials:
| Reference |
|---|
| Linguistic antipattern "D.2 Name suggests boolean but type is not": Arnaoudova, V., Di Penta, M., Antoniol, G., 2016. Linguistic antipatterns: What they are and how developers perceive them. Empirical Software Engineering, 21(1), pp.104-158. |
| https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3037188/naming-of-boolean-column-in-database-table |