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2.1 Enhanced Entity Relationships Model

This document discusses the Enhanced Entity-Relationship (EER) model, which incorporates additional concepts beyond the basic ER model to represent more complex database applications. It introduces three key concepts of the EER model: specialization/generalization, which allows entity types to be organized into subclasses; aggregation, which represents a "has-a" relationship between a whole and its parts; and composition, a specific type of aggregation where the parts have coincidental lifetimes with the whole. The document provides examples and diagrams to illustrate how these concepts can be modeled and extended the ER model.

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Mat Jakpar
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22 views

2.1 Enhanced Entity Relationships Model

This document discusses the Enhanced Entity-Relationship (EER) model, which incorporates additional concepts beyond the basic ER model to represent more complex database applications. It introduces three key concepts of the EER model: specialization/generalization, which allows entity types to be organized into subclasses; aggregation, which represents a "has-a" relationship between a whole and its parts; and composition, a specific type of aggregation where the parts have coincidental lifetimes with the whole. The document provides examples and diagrams to illustrate how these concepts can be modeled and extended the ER model.

Uploaded by

Mat Jakpar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Enhanced Entity-Relationship Model

Objectives
2

In this class, student will learn:


 Limitations of basic concepts of the ER model and
requirements to represent more complex applications using
additional data modeling concepts.
 Most useful additional data modeling concepts of Enhanced
ER (EER) model called:
 specialization/generalization
 aggregation
 composition.
 A diagrammatic technique for displaying
specialization/generalization, aggregation, and composition
in an EER diagram using UML.
Enhanced Entity-Relationship Model
3

Since 1980s there has been an increase in


emergence of new database applications with
more demanding requirements.

Basic concepts of ER modeling are not


sufficient to represent requirements of newer,
more complex applications.

Response is development of additional


‘semantic’ modeling concepts.
The Enhanced Entity-Relationship Model

Semantic concepts are incorporated into the


original ER model and called the Enhanced
Entity-Relationship (EER) model.

Examples of additional concepts of EER model


are:
 specialization / generalization
 aggregation
 composition
Specialization / Generalization

Superclass/supertype
 An entity type that includes one or more distinct
subgroupings of its occurrences.

Subclass/subtype
 A distinct subgrouping of occurrences of an entity type.
Specialization / Generalization

Superclass/subclass relationship is one-


to-one (1:1).

Superclass may contain overlapping or


distinct subclasses.

Not all members of a superclass need be


a member of a subclass.
Specialization / Generalization

Attribute Inheritance
 An entity in a subclass represents same ‘real world’ object
as in superclass, and may possess subclass-specific
attributes, as well as those associated with the superclass.
Specialization / Generalization

Specialization
 Process of maximizing differences between members of an
entity by identifying their distinguishing characteristics.

Generalization
 Process of minimizing differences between entities by
identifying their common characteristics.
AllStaff relation holding details of all staff
Specialization/generalization of Staff entity into
subclasses representing job roles
Specialization/generalization of Staff entity into
job roles and contracts of employment
EER diagram with shared subclass and
subclass with its own subclass
Constraints on Specialization /
Generalization
Two constraints that may apply to a
specialization/generalization:
 participation constraints
 disjoint constraints.

Participation constraint
 Determines whether every member in superclass
must participate as a member of a subclass.
 May be mandatory or optional.
Constraints on Specialization /
Generalization
Disjoint constraint
 Describes relationship between members of the
subclasses and indicates whether member of a
superclass can be a member of one, or more than one,
subclass.
 May be disjoint or nondisjoint.
Constraints on Specialization /
Generalization
There are four categories of constraints of
specialization and generalization:
 mandatory and disjoint
 optional and disjoint
 mandatory and nondisjoint
 optional and nondisjoint.
DreamHome worked example - Staff
Superclass with Supervisor and Manager
subclasses
DreamHome worked example - Owner
Superclass with PrivateOwner and
BusinessOwner subclasses
DreamHome worked example - Person
superclass with Staff, PrivateOwner, and Client
subclasses
EER diagram of Branch view of DreamHome
with specialization/generalization
Aggregation

Represents a ‘has-a’ or ‘is-part-of’ relationship


between entity types, where one represents the
‘whole’ and the other ‘the part’.
Examples of Aggregation
Aggregation
23

Sale Item

SaleDate * contains * Description


Employee Cost

Aggregation: the Sale consists of a set of Items being sold.


Composition

Specific form of aggregation that represents an


association between entities, where there is a
strong ownership and coincidental lifetime
between the ‘whole’ and the ‘part’.
Example of Composition
Composition
26
Bicycle Bicycle
Size 1 built from 2 Wheels
Size
Model Type Rims
1 Model Type
… Spokes
1 …
…

1 Crank Wheels

ItemID
Weight Crank

Two ways to 1 Stem


Stem
display ItemID
composition. Weight
Size

Composition: aggregation where the components become the new object.


27

Enhanced Entity-Relationship
Model

End of Presentation

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