Data type handling for semi-structured data in a hybrid relational and schema-flexible database

A system, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
• process a statement configured to generate a collection of semi-structured documents in a document store based on a schema, wherein the schema is in a semi-structured format, wherein the statement comprises a keyword that specifies a first data type in which a plurality of entities from the collection are to be returned from the document store, and wherein the first data type is a semi-structured data type;
• determine that an entity of the plurality of entities is defined by the schema as being a particular data type different from the semi-structured data type;
• override the first data type specified by the keyword with the particular data type defined by the schema;
• provide a query for the entity to the document store;
• and
• receive, based on the query, the entity in accordance with the particular data type that overrides the semi-structured data type.

A non-transitory computer-readable device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computing device, cause the at least one computing device to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• processing a statement configured to generate a collection of semi-structured documents in a document store based on a schema, wherein the schema is in a semi-structured format, wherein the statement comprises a keyword that specifies a first data type in which a plurality of entities from the collection are to be returned from the document store, and wherein the first data type is a semi-structured data type;
• determining that an entity of the plurality of entities is defined by the schema as being a particular data type different from the semi-structured data type;
• overriding the first data type specified by the keyword with the particular data type defined by the schema;
• providing a query for the entity to the document store;
• and
• receiving, based on the query, the entity in accordance with the particular data type that overrides the semi-structured data type.