Temporal database

A temporal database stores data relating to time instances. It offers temporal data types and stores information relating to past, present and future time. Temporal databases can be uni-temporal, bi-temporal or tri-temporal.

More specifically the temporal aspects usually include valid time, transaction time and/or decision time.

• Valid time is the time period during or event time at which a fact is true in the real world.
• Transaction time is the time at which a fact was recorded in the database.
• Decision time is the time at which the decision was made about the fact. Used to keep a history of decisions about valid times.