Metafinite Model Theory

Earlier the second author criticized database theorists for admitting arbitrary structures as databases: databases are finite structures [60]. However, a closer investigation reveals that databases are not necessarily finite. For example, a query may manipulate numbers that do not even appear in the database, which shows that a numerical structure is somehow involved. It is true nevertheless that database structures are special. The phenomenon is not restricted to databases; for example think about the natural structure to formalize the traveling salesman problem. To this end, we define metafinite structures. Typically such a structure consists of (i) a primary part, which is a finite structure, (ii) a secondary part, which is a (usually infinite) structure e.g. arithmetic or the real line, and (iii) a set of “weight” functions from the first part into the second. Our logics do not allow quantification over the secondary part. We study definability issues and their relation to complexity. We discuss model-theoretic properties of metafinite structures, present results on descriptive complexity, and sketch some potential applications.