Storing element-based descriptions of documents in a database

A method, computer program, and database system are disclosed for storing element-based descriptions of documents in a database. The database system includes one or more nodes. Each of the one or more nodes provides access to one or more of a plurality of CPUs. Each of the one or more CPUs provides access to one or more of a plurality of virtual processes. Each virtual process is configured to manage data stored in one of a plurality of data-storage facilities. The data stored in the plurality of data-storage facilities includes data representing a database table. A row of the table corresponds to an element of the element-based document description and includes: data describing the element, an order identifier corresponding to the element, and a range identifier corresponding to the element.