1. A method for providing access to data for nodes, each node of said nodes belonging to an information hierarchy, wherein said data for said nodes are stored in a plurality of rows of a table, the method comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of hash values that reflects an order of a plurality of pathnames associated with said nodes, wherein each hash value in the plurality of hash values is generated based on character values of a particular pathname in the plurality of pathnames, the order being character-based; wherein each pathname of said plurality of pathnames corresponds to a row of said plurality of rows and identifies a location within an information hierarchy that includes a node whose data is stored in the row; and storing, in a database, said plurality of hash values in an index that associates said plurality of hash values with said plurality of rows; wherein said index is ordered by said plurality of hash values as key values; identifying a range of hash values based on a path that includes one or more nodes; scanning said index based on said range of hash values to find one or more rows corresponding to said range of hash values, wherein said one or more rows store data of one or more descendant nodes to said one or more nodes; and retrieving said data of said one or more descendant nodes from said one or more rows; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.