The potential of discovery comes from the realization that alternate contexts may reveal additional valuable information. A metaphor for database discovery is mining. The metaphor is to somehow 'sift' through the 'ore' of a database to discover information 'nuggets'. Database mining elicits knowledge that is implicit in the databases. In a sense, we could say that mining may make implicit knowledge available for use.
Database mining is a relatively new area of interest.
Various methods have been tried. However, the results so far have not been completely satisfactory. Soft computing may have much to offer. Results are achieved with tractability, robustness and a rapport with reality. The principal members of soft computing are for the most part synergistic and complementary.