3 ms·

Typically tuples are ordered lists of values. See Codd's relational model, Linda, Erlang, etc.

• coldtea 9y ago
  In the relational model the order shouldn't matter: A relation is defined as a set of n-tuples. In both mathematics and the relational database model, a set is an unordered collection of unique, non- duplicated items, although some DBMSs impose an order to their data. In mathematics, a tuple has an order, and allows for duplication. E. F. Codd originally defined tuples using this mathematical definition. Later, it was one of E. F. Codd's great insights that using attribute names instead of an ordering would be so much more convenient (in general) in a computer language based on relations. This insight is still being used today. Though the concept has changed, the name "tuple" has not.
  • lou1306 9y ago
    I stand corrected; I was probably fooled by the naming. Still, in most contexts tuples are ordered while sets/bags are not.
  • deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]