1. A method for accessing data within a relational database, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, at a database server, a request that includes information in XML syntax, wherein the information specifies target data that resides in one or more portions of the relational database; determining, based on the information, the one or more portions of the relational database that correspond to the target data; and retrieving the target data from the one or more portions of the relational database.