SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING NON-NATIVE DATA TYPES IN A DATABASE API

A database API is presented that can expose data of non-native data-types, i.e., types that are unknown at API design-time. A broad type-system is used that is understood by both a server and a client. The API can dynamically discover, at run-time, data types that were defined using this broad type-system. The API can retrieve metadata that references a non-native data type in a client type library. A retrieved instance of the non-native data type, in serialized form, may be deserialized using the metadata.