DB2 System Catalog Views: Everything You Need to Know About Your DB Objects

ny database engine, whether it is IBM DB2 UDB, Oracle, or Microsoft SQL Server, depends on stored metadata for the normal operation of a database instance. In DB2 UDB, this metadata information is stored as database tables and views called system catalog views. Application developers can use this metadata to find out more about a database object and its state, which is very useful when developing applications.

Metadata information about database instances is required for the smooth operation of any database system. The database system uses this information when serving user requests, in the form of either DML statements or calls from database utilities. For database administrators, the metadata helps in the tuning and optimization of a database instance. For database developers, this information helps in finding the logical and physical structure of database objects such as tables, views, columns, indexes, triggers, and many others. Most of the graphical database development tools available in the market use metadata information to display details about database objects. IBM's DB2 Development Center IDE is an example of such a tool.