Storage of database column data in non-volatile memory

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• storing first header data and a first logical array in a volatile random access memory storing, the first logical array stored in a first contiguous memory block of the volatile random access memory, with each array position of the first logical array representing a position in a database table and storing a value identifier of a value associated with the position in the database table, and with the first header data indicating a number of bits used to encode the value identifiers and comprising a first pointer to the first contiguous memory block;
• determining a memory size associated with the first header data and the first contiguous memory block;
• allocating a first memory block of the non-volatile random access memory based on the determined memory size;
• determining an address of the non-volatile random access memory associated with the allocated first memory block;
• and
• contiguously writing, from the address of the non-volatile random access memory, descriptive information of the first header data including the number of bits, the number of alignment bits, and a binary copy of the first contiguous memory block,
• wherein determining the memory size comprises determining the number of alignment bits based on a size of the descriptive information to be written to the non-volatile random access memory and on a desired bit alignment of a start address of the binary copy of the first contiguous memory block in the non-volatile random access memory.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program code, the program code executable by a computer system to cause to the computer system to:

• store first header data and a first logical array in a volatile random access memory storing, the first logical array stored in a first contiguous memory block of the volatile random access memory, with each array position of the first logical array representing a position in a database table and storing a value identifier of a value associated with the position in the database table, and with the first header data indicating a number of bits used to encode the value identifiers and comprising a first pointer to the first contiguous memory block;
• determine a memory size associated with the first header data and the first contiguous memory block;
• allocate a first memory block of the non-volatile random access memory based on the determined memory size;
• determine an address of the non-volatile random access memory associated with the allocated first memory block;
• and
• contiguously write, from the address of the non-volatile random access memory, descriptive information of the first header data including the number of bits, the number of alignment bits, and a binary copy of the first contiguous memory block at the address of the non-volatile random access memory,
• wherein determination of the memory size comprises determination of the number of alignment bits based on a size of the descriptive information to be written to the non-volatile random access memory and on a desired bit alignment of a start address of the binary copy of the first contiguous memory block in the non-volatile random access memory.