Data Model

A model is an abstraction process that hides superfluous details. Data modeling is used for
representing entities of interest and their relationship in the database. Data model is a collection of
concepts that can be used to describe the structure of a database which provides the necessary
means to achieve the abstraction. The structure of a database means that holds the data.
Types of Data Models
1. High Level- Conceptual data model.
2. Low Level – Physical data model.
3. Relational or Representational
4. Object-oriented Data Models:
5. Object-Relational Models:
1. High Level-conceptual data model: User level data model is the high level or conceptual
model. This provides concepts that are close to the way that many users perceive data.
2. Low level-Physical data model: Provides concepts that describe the details of how
data is stored in the computer model. Low level data model is only for Computer specialists
not for end-user.
3. Representation data model: It is between High level & Low-level data model
Which provides concepts that may be understood by end-user but that are not too
far removed from the way data is organized by within the computer.
The most common data models are
1. Relational Model
The Relational Model uses a collection of tables both data and the relationship among those data.
Each table have multiple column and each column has a unique name.
For example: Relational database comprising of two tables
Customer –Table.
Customer-Name Security Number Address City Account Number
Preethi 111-222-3456 Yelhanka Bangalore A-101
Sharan 111-222-3457 Hebbal Bangalore A-125
Preethi 112-123-9878 Jaynagar Bangalore A-456
Arun 123-987-9909 MG road Bangalore A-987
Preethi 111-222-3456 Yelhanka Bangalore A-111
Rocky 222-232-0987 Sanjay Nagar Bangalore A-111
Account –Table
Account-Number Balance
A-101 1000.00
A-125 1200.00
A-456 5000.00
A-987 1234.00
A-111 3000.00
Customer Preethi and Rocky share the same account number A-111
Advantages
The main advantages of relational data model are
1. The main advantage of this model is its ability to represent data in a simplified format.
2. The process of manipulating record is simplified with the use of certain key attributes used
to retrieve data.
3. Representation of different types of relationship is possible with this model.
2. Network Model
The data in the network model are represented by collection of records and relationships among
data are represented by links, which can be viewed as pointers.
For example:

Preethi 111-222-3456 yelhanka Bangalore

A-101 1000.00

A-111 3000.00
The records in the database are organized as collection of arbitrary groups.
Advantages:
1. Representation of relationship between entities is implemented using pointers which allows
the representation of arbitrary relationship
2. Unlike the hierarchical model it is easy.
3. Data manipulation can be done easily with this model.
3. Hierarchical Model
A hierarchical data model is a data model which the data is organized into a tree like structure.
The structure allows repeating information using parent/child relationships: each parent can
have many children but each child only has one parent. All attributes of a specific record are
listed under an entity type.
Advantages:

1. The representation of records is done using an ordered tree, which is natural method of
implementation of one–to-many relationships.
2. Proper ordering of the tree results in easier and faster retrieval of records.
3. Allows the use of virtual records. This result in a stable database especially when
modification of the data base is made.
4. Object-oriented Data Models
In the Object-Oriented Data Model, A data model is a logic organization of the real-world
objects (entities), constraints on them, and the relationships among objects. A DB language is
a concrete syntax for a data model. A DB system implements a data model. In this type of data
models several models have been proposed for implementing in a database system. One set
comprises models of persistent O-O Programming Languages such as C++ (e.g., in
OBJECTSTORE or VERSANT), and Smalltalk (e.g., in GEMSTONE). Additionally, systems
like O2, ORION (at MCC – then ITASCA), IRIS (at H.P.- used in Open OODB).
5. Object-Relational Models
Most Recent Trend. Started with Informix Universal Server. Relational systems incorporate
concepts from object databases leading to object relational. Object Database Standard: ODMG-
93, ODMG-version 2.0, ODMG-version 3.0. Exemplified in the latest versions of Oracle-0i,
DB2, and SQL Server and other DBMSs. Standards included in SQL-99 and expected to be
enhanced in future SQL standards.