A method comprising: a database server receiving, in a database session for a first application, a query from a database client that is to be applied at an application root of a container database, wherein: the query identifies at least a particular database object, the database server provides access to the container database and a plurality of pluggable databases (290, 301, 302), the container database contains the application root for the first application and an additional application root for a different application, a particular pluggable database of the plurality of pluggable databases that is not the application root contains one or more tablespace files that stores said particular database object, the container database includes a root database which stores one or more database objects and metadata related to the one or more database objects that are shared among a plurality of pluggable databases stored within the container database, the plurality of pluggable databases includes the application root and the additional application root, and the application root stores second one or more database objects and second metadata related to the second one or more database objects that are shared among a subset of the plurality of pluggable databases stored within the container database which are utilized by the first application; in response to receiving the query, the database server executing the query based on a database dictionary of the application root to generate a result set; the database server returning the result set to the database client; and in response to receiving an additional query in the database session, limiting the scope of the additional query to pluggable databases that are members of the application root for the first application. a database server receiving, in a database session for a first application, a query from a database client that is to be applied at an application root of a container database, wherein: the query identifies at least a particular database object, the database server provides access to the container database and a plurality of pluggable databases (290, 301, 302), the container database contains the application root for the first application and an additional application root for a different application, a particular pluggable database of the plurality of pluggable databases that is not the application root contains one or more tablespace files that stores said particular database object, the container database includes a root database which stores one or more database objects and metadata related to the one or more database objects that are shared among a plurality of pluggable databases stored within the container database, the plurality of pluggable databases includes the application root and the additional application root, and the application root stores second one or more database objects and second metadata related to the second one or more database objects that are shared among a subset of the plurality of pluggable databases stored within the container database which are utilized by the first application; the query identifies at least a particular database object, the database server provides access to the container database and a plurality of pluggable databases (290, 301, 302), the container database contains the application root for the first application and an additional application root for a different application, a particular pluggable database of the plurality of pluggable databases that is not the application root contains one or more tablespace files that stores said particular database object, the container database includes a root database which stores one or more database objects and metadata related to the one or more database objects that are shared among a plurality of pluggable databases stored within the container database, the plurality of pluggable databases includes the application root and the additional application root, and the application root stores second one or more database objects and second metadata related to the second one or more database objects that are shared among a subset of the plurality of pluggable databases stored within the container database which are utilized by the first application; in response to receiving the query, the database server executing the query based on a database dictionary of the application root to generate a result set; the database server returning the result set to the database client; and in response to receiving an additional query in the database session, limiting the scope of the additional query to pluggable databases that are members of the application root for the first application.