Determining a density of a key value referenced in a database query over a range of rows

A program product, comprising:

• program code resident in a memory and configured to be executed by a processor to process a database query by determining a density of a key value referenced in the database query over at least one range of rows in a database table referenced by the database query, and utilizing the determined density to optimize the database query, wherein the program code is further configured to determine the density by determining a first row of the range of rows in the database table that contains the key value, wherein the first row of the range of rows is representative of a location of the first row in the database table, determining a last row of the range of rows in the database table that contains the key value, wherein the last row of the range of rows is representative of a location of the last row in the database table, and determining a count that is representative of a number of times that the key value appears in the range of rows;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable medium bearing the program code.

A method of processing a database query, the method comprising:

• identifying at least one region of high density in a bit map generated for a key value referenced in the database query, wherein each region is an I/O sized block;
• and
• utilizing at least one of the identified regions of high density to execute the database query.