{"title":"Output bounds for conjunctions of path queries","authors":"Tamara Cucumides , Juan Reutter , Domagoj Vrgoč","doi":"10.1016/j.ipl.2026.106628","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conjunctive regular queries (CRQs) extend conjunctive regular path queries (CRPQs) by allowing path patterns defined through regular queries, a language that strictly generalizes regular path queries and underpins the recently published GQL standard. Despite their importance, little is known about how to derive tight output bounds for CRQs, which are crucial in the design of worst-case optimal algorithms. In this paper we extend the classical Atserias-Grohe-Marx (AGM) bound and the recent techniques for CRPQs to CRQs. We show that while the AGM approach provides general bounds, obtaining tight results requires refined information on the sets of nodes that can participate in the answers of regular queries. We introduce the use of derivation trees and marked nodes to capture this information, and show how they can be integrated into linear programs that yield tight bounds. We also provide lower bounds showing the optimality of our techniques. Our results strictly extend previous bounds for CRPQs, and offer new insights into the evaluation of richer query languages over graph databases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56290,"journal":{"name":"Information Processing Letters","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 106628"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6000,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Information Processing Letters","FirstCategoryId":"94","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020019026000098","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"计算机科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/2/27 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"COMPUTER SCIENCE, INFORMATION SYSTEMS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Conjunctive regular queries (CRQs) extend conjunctive regular path queries (CRPQs) by allowing path patterns defined through regular queries, a language that strictly generalizes regular path queries and underpins the recently published GQL standard. Despite their importance, little is known about how to derive tight output bounds for CRQs, which are crucial in the design of worst-case optimal algorithms. In this paper we extend the classical Atserias-Grohe-Marx (AGM) bound and the recent techniques for CRPQs to CRQs. We show that while the AGM approach provides general bounds, obtaining tight results requires refined information on the sets of nodes that can participate in the answers of regular queries. We introduce the use of derivation trees and marked nodes to capture this information, and show how they can be integrated into linear programs that yield tight bounds. We also provide lower bounds showing the optimality of our techniques. Our results strictly extend previous bounds for CRPQs, and offer new insights into the evaluation of richer query languages over graph databases.
期刊介绍:
Information Processing Letters invites submission of original research articles that focus on fundamental aspects of information processing and computing. This naturally includes work in the broadly understood field of theoretical computer science; although papers in all areas of scientific inquiry will be given consideration, provided that they describe research contributions credibly motivated by applications to computing and involve rigorous methodology. High quality experimental papers that address topics of sufficiently broad interest may also be considered.
Since its inception in 1971, Information Processing Letters has served as a forum for timely dissemination of short, concise and focused research contributions. Continuing with this tradition, and to expedite the reviewing process, manuscripts are generally limited in length to nine pages when they appear in print.