8. A computer implemented method of processing a query to a database in a computer system, wherein the database comprises a table of data and an index correlated to both the query and to the table, the method comprising the following steps: receiving the database query; determining whether data responsive to the query has low distinct cardinality; responsive to determining that the data responsive to the query has low distinct cardinality, accessing the index to determine if the table contains a first data entry satisfying a query predicate; and responsive to determining that the fist data entry satisfies the query and prior to determining that a second data entry satisfies the query, scanning substantially the entire table to retrieve substantially all data values satisfying the query.
8. A computer implemented method of processing a query to a database in a computer system, wherein the database comprises a table of data and an index correlated to both the query and to the table, the method comprising the following steps: receiving the database query; determining whether data responsive to the query has low distinct cardinality; responsive to determining that the data responsive to the query has low distinct cardinality, accessing the index to determine if the table contains a first data entry satisfying a query predicate; and responsive to determining that the fist data entry satisfies the query and prior to determining that a second data entry satisfies the query, scanning substantially the entire table to retrieve substantially all data values satisfying the query. 9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising the step of generating a query execution plan.