Exploring Entity

Relationship Diagrams
(ERDs)
An Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) is a visual tool used to model the
relationships between different entities in a database. It provides a
clear, structured way to understand the data and its connections.
Purpose of an ERD
1 Data Modeling 2 Communication
Identify entities, attributes, and Effectively communicate the
relationships to design a robust database design to stakeholders
database structure. and development teams.

3 Documentation
Serve as a reference point for the database's schema and architecture.
Key Components of an ERD
Entities Attributes Relationships

Represent the main objects Describe the characteristics Define the associations
or concepts in the database, or properties of an entity, between entities, such as
such as customers, like name, address, or price. one-to-many or many-to-
products, or orders. many connections.
Identifying Entities and Attributes
Identify Entities Determine Attributes Consider Relationships
Analyze the problem
domain and identify the Identify the essential Identify how the entities
key objects or concepts characteristics or are related to each other,
that need to be properties that describe such as one-to-many or
represented in the each entity, such as name, many-to-many
database. ID, or date. connections.
Defining Relationships Between Entities

One-to-One One-to-Many Many-to-Many

A single instance of one A single instance of one Multiple instances of one
entity is associated with a entity is associated with entity are associated with
single instance of another multiple instances of multiple instances of
entity. another entity. another entity.
Cardinality and Connectivity in ERDs

Cardinality Connectivity Representing Cardinality

Defines the number of
instances of one entity that
can be associated with a
single instance of another
entity.
Describes the level of
dependency between
entities, such as mandatory
or optional relationships.
and Connectivity
Use symbols like 1, 0..1, 1..*,
and 0..* to indicate the
specific cardinality and
connectivity in an ERD.
Translating an ERD to a Database
Schema
1 Entities to Tables
Each entity in the ERD becomes a table in the database schema.

2 Attributes to Columns
The attributes of each entity become the columns in the corresponding
table.

3 Relationships to Foreign Keys

The relationships between entities are represented by foreign key
constraints in the database schema.
Best Practices for Creating and Using ERDs

Plan Ahead Keep it Simple Iterate and Refine Communicate

Effectively
Thoroughly Avoid
understand the overcomplexity and Regularly review and Use the ERD to
problem domain focus on the update the ERD as clearly explain the
before creating the essential entities and the database database design to
ERD. relationships. requirements evolve. stakeholders and
developers.
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