According to embodiments of the present invention, methods, systems and computer-readable media are presented for processing a database query. The query may specify an arrangement for resulting data. A digest is generated for each of a plurality of database object elements. The plurality of database object elements are grouped or mapped into one or more groups based on the digest to arrange the database object elements in digest order. The database object elements from the one or more groups are extracted and/or processed in order of the digest, in accordance with the specified arrangement.