15. A database system comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing: an attribute engine providing access to a string dictionary; a unified table component comprising: a dictionary storage component that loads one or more of multiple dictionary blocks of the string dictionary, each of the multiple dictionary blocks comprising one or more value blocks; a value ID directory providing access to an entry of the string dictionary given a value ID; a separator directory providing access to an entry of the string dictionary given a string value; and a large string handler providing access to large string values; and a basis storing value block vectors, each of the value block vectors storing pointers to the one or more value blocks for one of the multiple dictionary blocks; and computer executable instructions for, with the dictionary storage component, performing operations comprising: receiving a request for an entry of the string dictionary; using a value ID or string value associated with the request, selecting a dictionary block of the multiple dictionary blocks as responsive to the request; selectively loading the selected dictionary block into memory; and searching the selected dictionary block that has been loaded into memory.
17. The database system of claim 15 , wherein, when a string value is provided in the request, as part of the selecting the dictionary block, the dictionary storage component: searches the separator directory for a separator of one of the multiple dictionary blocks that contains the string value provided in the request, and selects the dictionary block that contains the string value provided in the request.