Navigational database

Navigational databases incorporate both the network model and hierarchical model of database interfaces. Navigational techniques use "pointers" and "paths" to navigate among data records. This is in contrast to the relational model, which strives to use "declarative" or logic programming techniques in which you ask the system for what you want instead of how to navigate to it.

For example, to give directions to a house, the navigational approach would resemble something like, "Get on highway 25 for 8 miles, turn onto Horse Road, left at the red barn, then stop at the 3rd house down the road". Whereas, the declarative approach would resemble, "Visit the green house(s) within the following coordinates...."

Hierarchical models are also considered navigational because one "goes" up (to parent), down (to leaves), and there are "paths", such as the familiar file/folder paths in hierarchical file systems. In general, navigational systems will use prepositions such as "next", "previous", "first", "last", "up", "down", etc.

The term allegedly is derived from a speech by Charles Bachman in which he describes the "programmer as navigator" while accessing his favored type of database.

Although navigational techniques fell out of favor by the 1980's, object oriented programming has kindled a renewed, but controversial interest in navigational techniques.