Accessing data using a file reference-based user defined function

A system comprising:

• one or more processors of a machine;
• and
• at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
• decoding a request for a user-defined function (UDF), the request including a reference to one or more files;
• generating in a UDF execution environment, the UDF based on the request, the UDF including a file reference object with file path information corresponding to the reference, and the file path information identifying a file path to the one or more files specified by the request;
• detecting a UDF call into the UDF, the UDF call specifying the file path information of the file reference object;
• and
• processing the UDF call in a sandbox process to access the one or more files via the file path and to generate result data using the one or more files.

A machine storage medium embodying instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

• decoding a request for a user-defined function (UDF), the request including a reference to one or more files;
• generating in a UDF execution environment, the UDF based on the request, the UDF including a file reference object with file path information corresponding to the reference, and the file path information identifying a file path to the one or more files specified by the request;
• detecting a UDF call into the UDF, the UDF call specifying the file path information of the file reference object;
• and
• processing the UDF call in a sandbox process to access the one or more files via the file path and to generate result data using the one or more files.