Codd's twelve rules[1] are a set of thirteen rules (numbered zero to twelve) proposed by Edgar F. Codd, a pioneer of the relational model for databases, designed to define what is required from a database management system in order for it to be considered relational, i.e., a relational database management system (RDBMS).[2][3] They are sometimes referred to as "Codd's Twelve Commandments".[4]