Canonical Data Model

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What Does Canonical Data Model Mean?

A canonical data model (CDM) is a type of data model that presents data entities and relationships in the simplest possible form.

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It is generally used in system/database integration processes where data is exchanged between different systems, regardless of the technology used.

A canonical data model is also known as a common data model.

Techopedia Explains Canonical Data Model

A canonical data model primarily enables an organization to create and distribute a common definition of its entire data unit. The design of a CDM requires identifying all entities, their attributes and the relationships between them.

The importance of a CDM is particularly evident in integration processes where data units are shared between different information system platforms. It utilizes a generalized data format to present/define data that makes it simple to share data among multiple applications.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret 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 IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.