Management of temporal data by means of a canonical schema

Computer programs embodied in computer-readable media for managing temporal data in relational databases are provided. According to one embodiment, a computer program comprises logic for storing temporal data in tables stored in a database and using a single schema. The schema includes a first column designating an identifier of an object represented in a row of a table and columns designating an effective-time period. For a past effective-time period, the state of the object as it existed is described by atemporal data in the row. For a present effective-time period, the present state of the object is described. For a future effective-time period, the state of the object as it will exist is described by the atemporal data. Additional logic stores additional data in the tables, such as business data describing the state of the object.