Data storage system

A data storage system for storing a number of versions of a number of objects, the versions of the objects being arranged in branch groups, wherein at least one version of at least one object defines a branch group, and wherein the versions of the objects are stored in accordance with their branch group, the system comprising:

• an object branches table including a branch column, an object identity column, a version sequence column and an object data column, wherein data identifying the branch group, the object and the number of versions of the object in the branch group, are stored in the branch column, object identity column and the version sequence column respectively, and the versions of the objects in each branch group are stored in the object data column, and wherein the object branches table is arranged such that only one row of the object branches table is provided corresponding to each object in each branch group;
• and,
• an object versions table having a branch column, an object identity column, a version column and a working column, wherein data identifying the branch group, the object and the object version in the branch group are stored in the branch column, object identity column and version column respectively, and subsequent versions of the objects are generated in the working column, and wherein the object versions table is arranged such that one table row is provided corresponding to each version of each object in each branch group.