PODS, the Symposium on Principles of Database Systems, is the premiere international conference on the theoretical aspects of database systems.  PODS was started in 1982. It is co-sponsored by three ACM Special Interest Groups: SIGACT (theoretical computer science), SIGART  (Artificial Intelligence), and SIGMOD. Since 1991, PODS has been held jointly with the SIGMOD conference, combining in one place the full spectrum of database research, from the most abstract and fundamental to the most pragmatic. A single registration gives attendees access to both PODS and SIGMOD sessions and copies of both proceedings.

PODS papers are distinguished by a rigorous approach to widely diverse problems in databases, often bringing to bear techniques from such fields as computational logic, finite model theory, complexity theory, algorithm and data structure  design and analysis, and many others. In addition to approximately 25 research papers selected from a large number of submissions, the conference includes invited tutorials and keynote talks.

For general information about PODS, see the PODS pages, which are maintained by Paris Koutris. Also see the Gems of PODS.