What is a key feature of an Object-Oriented Database Management System (OODBMS)?

Support for multimedia components is indeed a key feature of an Object-Oriented Database Management System (OODBMS). OODBMS is designed to handle complex data types and relationships, which makes it particularly adept at managing and storing multimedia data such as images, audio, and video. Unlike traditional relational databases that are optimized for structured data, OODBMS can natively store objects that represent these complex data types, offering a more versatile approach to data management. This capability is essential in applications where rich media content in various formats needs to be integrated and accessed alongside conventional data types.

In contrast, while large-scale transactional operations may be important in some database systems, OODBMS are more focused on object representation rather than transaction handling efficiency. The ability to integrate structured and unstructured data is also present, but this feature is not unique to OODBMS and can be found in other types of databases as well. Adherence to normalization rules is more characteristic of relational databases, which rely on strict schemas and relationships rather than the flexible structures utilized in object-oriented design. Thus, the support for multimedia components stands out as a defining aspect of OODBMS functionality.