Data Model

What Does Data Model Mean?

A data model refers to the logical inter-relationships and data flow between different data elements involved in the information world. It also documents the way data is stored and retrieved. Data models facilitate communication business and technical development by accurately representing the requirements of the information system and by designing the responses needed for those requirements. Data models help represent what data is required and what format is to be used for different business processes.

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Techopedia Explains Data Model

A data model can be concrete or abstract. It has the following main components:

  • Data types
  • Data items
  • Data sources
  • Event sources
  • Links

Data models are represented by the data modeling notation, which is often presented in the graphical format. Their main focus is to support and aid information systems by showing the format and definition of the different data involved. They also help prevent data redundancy. Information stored in data models is of great significance for businesses because it dictates the relationships between database tables, foreign keys and the events involved.

The three basic styles of data model are:

  • Conceptual data models
  • Physical data models
  • Logical data models
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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…