Edgar F. Codd's 'A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks'

IBM computer scientist Edgar F. Codd published his groundbreaking paper outlining the theoretical basis for relational databases, defining a new, mathematical approach to data organization.

Significance

This paper laid the intellectual foundation for all modern relational databases, including Oracle, providing the blueprint that Ellison, Miner, and Oates would eventually commercialize.