8/30/2020 Lesson 2.

2 Types of Data Models

Lesson 2.2 Types of Data Models

Site: Xavier University eLearn Printed by: Florence Reyes

CC 14 C 1 - DATABASE SYSTEMS AND Date: Sunday, 30 August 2020, 12:20 AM
Course:
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Book: Lesson 2.2 Types of Data Models

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Description

2.2.1 Entity-relationship model

2.2.2 Hierarchical model
2.2.3 Network model
2.2.4 Relational model
2.2.5 Object-Oriented and Object-Relational DBMS

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Table of contents

1. Data Model Overview

2. What is a Data Model?
3. Types of Data Models
3.1. High-level Conceptual Data Models
3.2. Record-based Logical Data Models

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1. Data Model Overview

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2. What is a Data Model?

A data model is an abstract model that organizes elements of data and standardizes how
they relate to one another and to the properties of real-world entities. For instance, a data
model may specify that the data element representing a car be composed of a number of
other elements which, in turn, represent the color and size of the car.

Data model emphasizes on what data is needed and how it should be organized.

Data Model is like an architect's building plan which helps to build a conceptual model
and set the relationship between data items.

Data Model is a link between the user’s view of the world and the bits stored in the
computer.

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3. Types of Data Models

There are many kinds of data models. Some of the most common ones include:

1. Entity-relationship model
2. Hierarchical model
3. Network model
4. Relational model
5. Object-Oriented and Object-Relational DBMS

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3.1. High-level Conceptual Data Models

High-level conceptual data models provide concepts for presenting data in ways that are close to the way people
perceive data. A typical example is an entity-relationship model.

Entity-Relationship Model

E-R model uses main concepts like entities, attributes, and relationships. An entity represents a real-world
object such as an employee or a project. The entity has attributes that represent properties such as an
employee’s name, address, and birthdate. A relationship represents an association among entities; for
example, an employee works on many projects. A relationship exists between the employee and each project.

This model is usually the result of systematic analysis to define and describe what is important to processes in
an area of business. It does not define the business processes; it only presents a business data schema in
graphical form.

It is usually drawn in a graphical form as boxes (which he defined as entities) that are connected by lines
representing relationships… which expresses the associations and dependencies between entities.

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3.2. Record-based Logical Data Models

Record-based logical data models provide concepts users can understand but are not too far from the way data is
stored on the computer. The well-known data models of this type are discussed on the next pages.

1. Hierarchical Data Model

The hierarchical data model was the first attempt to organize data in a structure so as to reduce redundancy,
to better utilize storage space, and to increase data integrity.

It organizes data into a tree-like structure, where each record has a single parent or root. Sibling records are
sorted in a particular order. With this model, a parent data can have multiple children, but a child can only
have one parent.

This model was primarily used by IBM’s Information Management Systems in the 60s and 70s, but they are
rarely seen today due to certain operational inefficiencies.

2. Network Data Model

The network data model builds on the hierarchical model by allowing many-to-many relationships between linked
records, implying multiple parent records. It was most popular in the 70s after it was formally defined by the
Conference on Data Systems Languages (CODASYL).

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3. Relational Data Model

The relational data model consists of tables with each table having rows and columns. The tables are linked
together via common fields, thus making it easy to access any data in the database tables (provided access is
granted to the data). Any table can be accessed without having to go through a hierarchy. A table can be linked to
any number of parent tables and a parent table can have any number of child tables.

The relational data model contains the benefits of both the hierarchical and network models and does a better job
of reducing data redundancy and increasing performance.

4. Object-Oriented and Object-Relational DBMS

An object-relational database (ORD) is a database management system (DBMS) that’s composed of both a
relational database (RDBMS) and an object-oriented database (OODBMS). An object-relational database acts
as an interface between relational and object-oriented databases because it contains aspects and

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characteristics from both models. This hybrid database model combines the simplicity of the relational model
with some of the advanced functionality of the object-oriented database model. In essence, it allows designers
to incorporate objects into the familiar table structure.

An object-oriented database is organized around objects rather than actions and data rather than logic.
Therefore, an object database is a database management system in which information is represented in the
form of objects as used in object-oriented programming.

Usually, when OODBMS is integrated with an object programming language, there is much greater
consistency between the database and the programming language because both use the same model of data
representation. When compared to a relational database management system, an object-oriented database
stores complex data and relationships between data directly, without mapping to relational rows and columns
whereas a relational database stores information in tables with rows and columns.

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