Query execution on compressed in-memory data

Query execution on compressed in-memory data includes receiving, at a processor of an instance of a distributed in-memory database, a query for data from a table stored in the distributed in-memory database as compressed table data, obtaining results data responsive to the query from the table, and outputting the results data for presentation to a user. Obtaining results data includes allocating memory to identify allocated memory for decompressing the compressed table data, obtaining uncompressed table data by decompressing the compressed table data into the allocated memory, and obtaining the results data from the uncompressed table data. The allocated memory is deallocated in response to obtaining the results data. Compressing a table to form compressed table data is also described.