Database Model - Overview

Overview

A database model is a theory or specification describing how a database is structured and used. Several such models have been suggested.

Common models include:

• Hierarchical model
• Network model
• Relational model
• Entity–relationship model
• Object-relational model
• Multivalue model
• Object model
• Document model

A data model is not just a way of structuring data: it also defines a set of operations that can be performed on the data. The relational model, for example, defines operations such as select (project) and join. Although these operations may not be explicit in a particular query language, they provide the foundation on which a query language is built.