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ESBAFIM SWE LEVEL 2 / DATABASE AND SQL

CHAPTER I: DATA MODELS IN DBMS

Data Model in Database Management System (DBMS) is the concept of

tools that are developed to summarize the description of the database. Data
Models provide us with a transparent picture of data which helps us in creating
an actual database. It shows us from the design of the data to its proper
implementation of data.

I- Types of Relational Models

It is basically classified into 3 types:-

1. Conceptual Data Model : the “what” model
2. Representational Data Model : the “how” of the details
3. Physical Data Model : the “how” of the implementation

1. Conceptual Data Model

The conceptual data model describes the database at a very high level
and is useful to understand the needs or requirements of the database. It is this
model, that is used in the requirement-gathering process i.e. before the Database
Designers start making a particular database. One such popular model is the
entity/relationship model (ER model). The E/R model specializes in entities,
relationships, and even attributes that are used by database designers. In terms
of this concept, a discussion can be made even with non-computer science(non-
technical) users and stakeholders, and their requirements can be understood.

Entity-Relationship Model( ER Model): It is a high-level data model which is used to

define the data and the relationships between them. It is basically a conceptual
design of any database which is easy to design the view of data.

a. Components of ER Model:

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• Entity: An entity is referred to as a real-world object. It can be a name,

place, object, class, etc. These are represented by a rectangle in an ER
Diagram.

• Attributes: An attribute can be defined as the description of the entity. These

are represented by Ellipse in an ER Diagram. It can be Age, Roll Number, or
Marks for a Student.

• Relationship: Relationships are used to define relations among different

entities. Diamonds and Rhombus are used to show Relationships.

b. Characteristics of a conceptual data model

• Offers Organization-wide coverage of the business concepts.

• This type of Data Models are designed and developed for a business
audience.

• The conceptual model is developed independently of hardware

specifications like data storage capacity, location or software
specifications like DBMS vendor and technology. The focus is to represent
data as a user will see it in the “real world.”

Conceptual data models known as Domain models create a common

vocabulary for all stakeholders by establishing basic concepts and scope

2. Representational Data Model

This type of data model is used to represent only the logical part of the
database and does not represent the physical structure of the database. The
representational data model allows us to focus primarily, on the design part of the
database. A popular representational model is a Relational model. The relational
Model consists of Relational Algebra and Relational Calculs. In the Relational
Model, we basically use tables to represent our data and the relationships
between them. It is a theoretical concept whose practical implementation is
done in Physical Data Model.

The advantage of using a Representational data model is to provide a foundation

to form the base for the Physical model

3. Physical Data Model

The physical Data Model is used to practically implement Relational Data Model.
Ultimately, all data in a database is stored physically on a secondary storage

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device such as discs and tapes. This is stored in the form of files, records, and
certain other data structures. It has all the information on the format in which the
files are present and the structure of the databases, the presence of external data
structures, and their relation to each other. Here, we basically save tables in
memory so they can be accessed efficiently. In order to come up with a good
physical model, we have to work on the relational model in a better way.
Structured Query Language (SQL) is used to practically implement Relational
Algebra.

This Data Model describes HOW the system will be implemented using a specific
DBMS system. This model is typically created by DBA and developers. The purpose
is actual implementation of the database.

Characteristics of a physical data model:

• The physical data model describes data need for a single project or
application though it maybe integrated with other physical data models
based on project scope.

• Data Model contains relationships between tables that which addresses

cardinality and nullability of the relationships.

• Developed for a specific version of a DBMS, location, data storage or

technology to be used in the project.

• Columns should have exact datatypes, lengths assigned and default

values.

• Primary and Foreign keys, views, indexes, access profiles, and authorizations,
etc. are defined

II- Some Other Data Models

1. Hierarchical Model

The hierarchical Model is one of the oldest models in the data model which was
developed by IBM, in the 1950s. In a hierarchical model, data are viewed as a
collection of tables, or we can say segments that form a hierarchical relation. In
this, the data is organized into a tree-like structure where each record consists of
one parent record and many children. Even if the segments are connected as a
chain-like structure by logical associations, then the instant structure can be a fan
structure with multiple branches. We call the illogical associations as directional
associations.

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2. Network Model

The Network Model was formalized by the Database Task group in the 1960s. This
model is the generalization of the hierarchical model. This model can consist of
multiple parent segments and these segments are grouped as levels but there
exists a logical association between the segments belonging to any level. Mostly,
there exists a many-to-many logical association between any of the two
segments.

3. Object-Oriented Data Model

In the Object-Oriented Data Model, data and their relationships are contained in
a single structure which is referred to as an object in this data model. In this, real-
world problems are represented as objects with different attributes. All objects
have multiple relationships between them. Basically, it is a combination of Object
Oriented programming and a Relational Database Model.

4. Float Data Model

The float data model basically consists of a two-dimensional array of data models
that do not contain any duplicate elements in the array. This data model has one
drawback it cannot store a large amount of data that is the tables can not be of
large size.

5. Context Data Model

The Context data model is simply a data model which consists of more than one
data model. For example, the Context data model consists of ER Model, Object-
Oriented Data Model, etc. This model allows users to do more than one thing
which each individual data model can do.

6. Semi-Structured Data Model

Semi-Structured data models deal with the data in a flexible way. Some entities
may have extra attributes and some entities may have some missing attributes.
Basically, you can represent data here in a flexible way.

III- Advantages of Data Models

1. Data Models help us in representing data accurately.

2. It helps us in finding the missing data and also in minimizing Data

Redundancy.

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3. Data Model provides data security in a better way.

4. The data model should be detailed enough to be used for building the
physical database.

5. The information in the data model can be used for defining the relationship
between tables, primary and foreign keys, and stored procedures.

IV- Disadvantages of Data Models

• In the case of a vast database, sometimes it becomes difficult to

understand the data model.
• You must have the proper knowledge of SQL to use physical models.
• Even smaller change made in structure require modification in the entire
application.
• There is no set data manipulation language in DBMS.
• To develop Data model one should know physical data stored
characteristics.

Conclusion

• Data modeling is the process of developing data model for the data to be
stored in a Database.
• Data Models ensure consistency in naming conventions, default values,
semantics, security while ensuring quality of the data.
• Data Model structure helps to define the relational tables, primary and
foreign keys and stored procedures.
• There are three types of conceptual, logical, and physical.
• The main aim of conceptual model is to establish the entities, their attributes,
and their relationships.
• Logical data model defines the structure of the data elements and set the
relationships between them.
• A Physical Data Model describes the database specific implementation of
the data model.
• The main goal of a designing data model is to make certain that data
objects offered by the functional team are represented accurately.

• The biggest drawback is that even smaller change made in structure require
modification in the entire application.

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