An introduction to data modeling and modeling terminology common to relational and graph databases.
The correct organization of data and the correct definition of the underlying database model or schema are critical to a business. TerminusDB organizes data in an object structure to facilitate modeling a business and the real world generally.
Using a small organization as an example, use the steps below to model and define a schema for the organization
and its elements - team
, project
, task
, and employee
.
Data modeling steps
Step 1. Identify the elements of the organization
Step 2. Identify the properties of each element
Step 3. Identify the relationships between elements
For relational and graph databases, an entity or element relationship model is a good way of implementing these steps. This helps to identify the components of the schema - its elements, properties, and relationships.
Elements are similar to entities in relational database terminology.
Properties are similar to attributes in relational database terminology. A property is an item of data describing the element.
Relationships are the same in graph and relational database terminology. Relationships define the associations or interactions between elements.
Element
Description
organization
The main organization.
team
The teams within the organization.
employee
The employee assigned to task
.
project
The projects that a team
creates.
task
The tasks of the project
.
Element
Properties
organization
name
, desc
, start-date
team
name
, desc
, start-date
employee
name
, date-of-birth
, start-date
, role
project
name
, start-date
, end-date
, desc
, status
task
name
, start-date
, end-date
, desc
, status
Element
Element
Relationship (phrasal verb)
Relationship description
organization
team
consists-of
An organization
consists of
team
s
team
project
collaborates-on
A team
collaborates-on
project
s
project
task
divided-into
A project
is divided-into
task
s
task
employee
assigned-to
A task
is assigned-to
an employee