Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 10

ER Model: What is an Entity Relationship Diagram https://slidemodel.

com/entity-relationship-diagram/

ER Model: What is an Entity Relationship Diagram


PRESENTATION IDEAS • NOVEMBER 16TH, 2022

Database management is a crucial asset for digital platform development, and even if some can consider that a simple task, the reality is
that a complex structure is required for proper functionality. Part of the planning process in database management is creating Entity
Relationship Model Diagrams, as it gives the necessary information to teams on which actions should be taken.

In this article, we will explain in detail what an Entity Relationship Model is and how to understand the different components that make it.
Without further ado, let’s get started.

Table of Contents

• What is the Entity-Relationship Model (ER) Model?


◦ History of ER Models & Diagrams
• Uses of ER Diagrams
• Main Components of the ER Diagram
• Symbols of ER Diagram
• What is the difference between an ER Diagram, a Flow Diagram, and a UML Diagram?
• How to Create an Entity Relationship Model Diagram
• Final Words

What is the Entity-Relationship Model (ER) Model?

An Entity-relationship diagram (ERD) or ER diagram is created to visualize data and relationships in a system. In simple terms, an ER
diagram is a visual representation of the flow of information and logical structure in a data model. The ER model uses entities, attributes,
and relationships using specific symbols to represent such an architecture.

1 of 10 12/21/2022, 10:06 PM
ER Model: What is an Entity Relationship Diagram https://slidemodel.com/entity-relationship-diagram/

An example of an Entity Relationship Model Diagram for an apparel e-commerce site

ER diagrams are used to visualize database structures, as well as to understand the flow of data and system requirements. ER
diagrams also serve as a reference to help improve and redesign systems, as well as for troubleshooting and debugging.

History of ER Models & Diagrams


While there have been many contributors to the ER model, Taiwanese American computer scientist Peter Pin-Shan Chen is mainly
credited with developing the entity-relationship model in 1976. The original paper by Chen is cited as a reference for the model itself. He
is deemed one of the pioneers of using the ER model in the modeling and designing of software and information systems. Before Chen’s
paper, the basic idea of entity-relationship was not well known. Chen’s initial work became the basis for formalizing the ER model and
introducing it in academic literature.

During the 60s and 70s, various other individuals also worked on an approach similar to Chen’s. This resulted in Charles Bachman
developing a data structure diagram named after him. In contrast, A.P.G. Brown and James Martin contributed to the Unified Modeling
Language (UML) commonly used in software design. ER diagrams also have different notation styles named after Chen, Bachman, and
Martin (among others).

Uses of ER Diagrams

ER Model diagrams are a great way to visualize the relationships between entities. What are the uses of ER diagrams? Here are some
other possible uses.

Database Design
Entity-relationship diagrams are used in database design. Software engineers often use ER diagrams as a starting point for determining
the system requirements for an information system. It is also used for modeling databases.

Database Troubleshooting
ER models are also used for analyzing databases to troubleshoot problems. It is used as a reference point to understand what might be
the cause of a problem and to find a solution to the issue.

Business Information Systems


Business processes using fielded data benefit from relational databases. Hence, ER diagrams are used for analyzing and designing

2 of 10 12/21/2022, 10:06 PM
ER Model: What is an Entity Relationship Diagram https://slidemodel.com/entity-relationship-diagram/

business information systems. Business processes can be streamlined using ER models.

Business Process Re-engineering (BPR)


ER models also help improve results and uncover information with ease. Entity-relationship models can also help in Business process
re-engineering and modeling new databases.

Research
Since research often requires structured data, ER models can be pretty helpful in creating databases that can aid data analysis.

Education
The use of databases for educational purposes has been increasing over the past few years. Databases are used for storing educational
data, which can be easily retrieved, making ER models quite helpful in structuring such a database.

Main Components of the ER Diagram

Entity-relationship diagrams consist of entities, the relationship between entities, and the characteristics of entities (attributes).

An example of a website’s ownership and employees’ relationship through an ER Diagram

Entity
An ‘entity’ in an ER diagram is something that can be defined. The easiest way to understand entities is to consider them as nouns. This
can include a person, concept, event, or even an object. These are entities for which data can be stored. For example, a customer or
product (e.g., a watch) can have data stored related to it.

Relationship
Entities act upon each other, forming relationships. For example, a customer might order a watch. The act of making a purchase is the
relationship between these two entities.

Attribute
An attribute is associated with an entity. Attributes can be a single value or multi-value. For example, a single-value attribute might
include a phone number, and a client entering multiple phone numbers would be a multi-value attribute.

Cardinality

3 of 10 12/21/2022, 10:06 PM
ER Model: What is an Entity Relationship Diagram https://slidemodel.com/entity-relationship-diagram/

The ER model depicts cardinality. This refers to the highest number of times an entity can relate to another entity’s instances. The
cardinality ratio describes a connecting relationship for two entity sets. The cardinalities can be many-to-many, one-to-one, or one-to-
many.

One-to-one: Person — Social security number (a person must have a social security number).

One-to-one (optional on one side): — Driving license (a person might have a driving license).

Many-to-one: Person — City (many people might live in the same city).

Many-to-many (optional on both sides): Person — Watch (a person may own a watch).

One-to-many: Order — Item (an order contains at least one item).

Many-to-many: Course — Subscriber (subscribers subscribe to various online courses).

Symbols of ER Diagram

Entity-relationship diagram symbols are represented across various notation styles. Different notation styles include Chen’s notation
style, Bachman style, Barker style, IDEF1X style, and Crow’s Foot style.

Rectangles: In ER diagrams, rectangles are used for entities. Depending on the notation style, an entity independent from other entities
may be defined as a rectangle. A weak entity, dependent on some other entity type, might be depicted with a rectangle inside a
rectangle. Similarly, an associative entity might be represented as a diamond shape within a rectangle. Associative entities contain
attributes and relate instances of different entity types.

Graphical elements to represent Entities in ER Model Diagram

Ellipses: Elipses in an Entity-relationship model represent attributes.

Double Ellipses: These represent multi-valued attributes.

Dashed Ellipses: Dashed-line ellipses express derivate attributes.

4 of 10 12/21/2022, 10:06 PM
ER Model: What is an Entity Relationship Diagram https://slidemodel.com/entity-relationship-diagram/

Graphical elements to represent Attributes in ER Model Diagram. Dashed ellipses are another method if you aim to express derivate attributes.

Diamonds: Relationship types are represented in ER diagrams using diamonds. Simple diamonds express a strong relationship,
whereas double diamonds are used for weak relationships. Using a diamond inscribed in a rectangle speaks of an associative entry.

Graphical elements to represent Relationships in ER Model Diagram

Lines: ER models depict links between attributes to entity types and between entity types and other relationship types. Below is an
image of the Crow’s Foot notation for ER Model Diagram.

5 of 10 12/21/2022, 10:06 PM
ER Model: What is an Entity Relationship Diagram https://slidemodel.com/entity-relationship-diagram/

The Crow’s Foot notation is one of the different methods of using lines in ER Model Diagrams. Other notations comprehend: Information Engineering Style,
Chen Style, Martin Style, and Bachman Style. These representations express Cardinality.

Keys: These are used for underlining attributes. Keys in ER diagrams are a way to categorize attributes. These keys also link tables in a
database in an efficient manner. A Primary Key is linked to only one instance of an entity, whereas Foreign Keys are created when an
attribute is associated with another entity. This might include relationships like one-to-one or one-to-many.

What is the difference between an ER Diagram, a Flow Diagram, and a UML Diagram?

An ER diagram, or Entity Relationship diagram, is a graphical representation of the relationship between entities in a database. Flow
diagrams, on the other hand, are used to visualize data flow through a system. And finally, UML diagrams are used to model the
structure of a system. So what’s the difference between these three types of diagrams? First, let’s take a closer look at ER diagrams.

As we mentioned before, ER diagrams are used to visualize the relationship between entities in a database. In an ER diagram, each
entity is represented by a rectangular box, and the relationships between entities are represented by lines that connect them. Flow
diagrams, on the other hand, are used to visualize the flow of data through a system. In a flow diagram, each process is represented by
a rectangular box, and the data flowing between processes is represented by arrows. Finally, UML diagrams are used to model the
structure of a system. In a UML diagram, each component of the system is represented by a rectangular box, and the relationships
between components are represented by lines that connect them.

As you can see, there are some similarities between these three types of diagrams. However, each type of diagram has its own specific
purpose and use case. When choosing which type of diagram to use, it’s essential to consider what information you want to visualize
and what your specific goals are.

How to Create an Entity Relationship Model Diagram

If you would like to learn how to create Entity-relationship diagrams in a database or present them in your presentation, refer to the
tutorials below.

How to Create an ER Diagram in MySQL Workbench


In MySQL Workbench, ER diagrams are also called Enhanced Entity-Relationship (EER) diagrams. This is because you can also

6 of 10 12/21/2022, 10:06 PM
ER Model: What is an Entity Relationship Diagram https://slidemodel.com/entity-relationship-diagram/

interact and make design modifications to diagrams. Check this video to guide you through the process.

How to Create an ER Diagram in DBeaver


You can create an ERD in DBeaver to design a database. DBeaver allows users to create and view diagrams for tables and entire
database schemas. This video here shows the process for making an ERD in DBeaver.

How to Create an ER Diagram Using PowerPoint and Google Slides


If you need to present an ER diagram to showcase a database model in the form of a PowerPoint presentation, you can use
PowerPoint shapes to depict the various notations for the model.

The process can be quickly resumed here:

• To create an ER diagram using PowerPoint, first, open a blank PowerPoint slide.


• Next, click on the “Insert” tab and then select “Shapes.”
• After that, choose the shape that you want to use for your ER diagram.
• Finally, add the appropriate text to each shape and connect them accordingly.

You can also use a similar process to design an Entity-Relationship diagram in Google Slides.

Presentation templates that have similar icons that can serve as a base model are as follows:

• Flow Chart Diagram templates


• Fishbone Diagram templates
• UML PowerPoint templates

Final Words

Entity-relationship diagrams help in the design of databases that now make up apps and services that regularly affect the way we buy
products, do business, and perform daily tasks. Be it banking, social media, mobile apps, or even the way your school or employer
enrolls you as a student or employee.

ER models can be essential not only for designing databases but also as a reference point to debug and redesign the database.
Understanding Entity-relationship diagrams requires focusing on entities, relationships, and attributes in order to understand the
workings of a database at the very basic level.

Entity-relationship models are a great way for beginners, as well as advanced database modeling experts as a starting and reference
point. Furthermore, if you are someone engaged in research or deal with learning management systems, mobile apps, web services,
and other database-driven platforms, understanding ER models can be of immense help to enhance your understanding of how data is
stored and managed.

Like this article? Please share

Recommend

Tweet

Share on Linkedin

Presentation Approaches, Presentation Skills


Filed under Presentation Ideas

Related Articles

7 of 10 12/21/2022, 10:06 PM
ER Model: What is an Entity Relationship Diagram https://slidemodel.com/entity-relationship-diagram/

FILED UNDER GOOGLE SLIDES TUTORIALS • DECEMBER 16TH, 2022

How to Download Google Slides Templates


Become a master of presentations by always having your designs available regardless of the network connection. Join us to learn how to download
Google Slides Templates.

FILED UNDER GOOGLE SLIDES TUTORIALS • DECEMBER 13TH, 2022

Google Slides Dimensions: What Size is Google Slides and How to Change Slide Size?
Any presentation slide can have its size adjusted with some simple steps. Learn how to change dimensions in Google Slides with this detailed guide.

8 of 10 12/21/2022, 10:06 PM
ER Model: What is an Entity Relationship Diagram https://slidemodel.com/entity-relationship-diagram/

FILED UNDER POWERPOINT TUTORIALS • DECEMBER 6TH, 2022

How to Work with Presenter View in PowerPoint


Discover how easy is to work with Presenter Mode in PowerPoint thanks to our detailed guide. We cover every single feature available to explore for
presenters.

No Comments » | ↑ Back to top

Leave a Reply
Name *

E-mail *

Website

Your Comment

Submit Comment

COMPANY

About Us
#1 provider of premium presentation templates for PowerPoint & Google
Blog
Slides.
Plans & Pricing
Customer Reviews
Sitemap

9 of 10 12/21/2022, 10:06 PM
ER Model: What is an Entity Relationship Diagram https://slidemodel.com/entity-relationship-diagram/

Free PowerPoint Templates


SERVICES CONTACT US

FAQ
+1 (408) 260-5548
Education & Nonprofits
Contact Support
Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
End User License Agreement
DMCA Policy
Affiliates

© 2022 SlideModel. All Right Reserved

10 of 10 12/21/2022, 10:06 PM

You might also like