Storage of database dictionary structures in non-volatile memory

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• storing, in a volatile random access memory, a first data block comprising an array of distinct values of a database table column, and first header data comprising a first pointer to the first data block;
• determining a memory size associated with the first header data and the first data 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
• writing an indicator of the number of distinct values of the array and a binary copy of the first data block at the address of the non-volatile random access memory,
• wherein the first data block comprises a first number of logical blocks storing the array of distinct values,
• wherein the volatile random access memory further stores a second data block comprising a second number of logical blocks storing a second array of distinct values of a database table column, and a data structure specifying, for each of the logical blocks of the first data block and the second data block, a number of the data block which includes the logical block and an offset at which the logical block is located in the data block,
• wherein the first header data comprises a second pointer to the second data block, and a third pointer to the data structure, and
• wherein writing the indicator of the number of distinct values of the array and the binary copy of the first data block at the address of the non-volatile random access memory comprises contiguously writing, from the address of the non-volatile random access memory, descriptive information of the first data block, a number of alignment bits, the binary copy of the first data block, descriptive information of the second data block, a second number of alignment bits, a binary copy of the second data block, descriptive information of the data structure, a third number of alignment bits, and a binary copy of the data structure.

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, in a volatile random access memory, a first data block comprising an array of distinct values of a database table column, and first header data comprising a first pointer to the first data block;
• determine a memory size associated with the first header data and the first data 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
• write an indicator of the number of distinct values of the array and a binary copy of the first data block at the address of the non-volatile random access memory,
• wherein the first data block comprises a first number of logical blocks storing the array of distinct values,
• wherein the volatile random access memory further stores a second data block comprising a second number of logical blocks storing a second array of distinct values of a database table column, and a data structure specifying, for each of the logical blocks of the first data block and the second data block, a number of the data block which includes the logical block and an offset at which the logical block is located in the data block,
• wherein the first header data comprises a second pointer to the second data block, and a third pointer to the data structure, and
• wherein writing the indicator of the number of distinct values of the array and the binary copy of the first data block at the address of the non-volatile random access memory comprises contiguously writing, from the address of the non-volatile random access memory, descriptive information of the first data block, a number of alignment bits, the binary copy of the first data block, descriptive information of the second data block, a second number of alignment bits, a binary copy of the second data block, descriptive information of the data structure, a third number of alignment bits, and a binary copy of the data structure.