Method and system employing vector operations in query tree for a relational database

A method and system is presented for constructing and applying a query processing tree to a relational database. The method/system comprises an automated approach for building a vector block of records using data in multiple input records derived from the relational database and then applying at least one vector operator of the query processing tree to the vector block of records. The approach can also include creating the query processing tree to have multiple vector operators. When applying the query processing tree, multiple vector blocks of records may be employed at the same vector operator or different vector operators. A vector descriptor control block associated with a vector block of records is employed to transfer control of the vector block of records from a first vector operator to a second vector operator in the query processing tree. The at least one vector operator in the query processing tree can comprise a table scan operator, a predicate operator, a sort operator, an aggregation operator, a join operator or a math operator.