🧠 What is a Data Model?
A Data Model is a way to organize and represent data in a database.
It tells how data is stored, how it is connected, and how we can
access it.
Think of it like a map or design that shows how data looks and how it
relates to other data.
🔷 Types of Data Models (with Examples)
1️⃣ Relational Data Model
📌 What it is:
Data is stored in tables (also called relations).
Each table has rows (records) and columns (fields).
Different tables can be linked using keys.
🎓 Real-Life Example (College Database):
Table: Student
StudentID Name Age
101 Alice 18
102 Rahul 19
Table: Course
CourseID CourseName
CSE101 DBMS
CSE102 Python
Table: Enrollment
StudentID CourseID
101 CSE101
102 CSE102
🧩 These tables are connected using StudentID and CourseID.
📍 Where it is used:
MySQL
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Microsoft SQL Server
✅ Why it's popular:
Simple and easy to understand
Powerful for storing structured data
Most commonly used model in real-world applications
2️⃣ Entity-Relationship (ER) Model
📌 What it is:
Used for designing a database before creating it.
Uses:
o Entities (objects like Student, Course)
o Attributes (properties like name, age)
o Relationships (like Enrolls, Owns)
🎓 Real-Life Example:
Entities:
Student
Course
Relationship:
Student ENROLLS in Course
ER Diagram:
student enroll course
s
📍 Where it is used:
While planning or designing a database.
Used by database designers and developers.
✅ Why it's useful:
Easy to understand relationships
Helps in converting real-world data into a database structure
3️⃣ Object-Based Data Model
📌 What it is:
Stores data as objects, like in object-oriented programming.
Each object has attributes (data) and methods (functions).
🎓 Real-Life Example:
In a Library System, a Book object may have:
Book {
Title: "DBMS Simplified"
Author: "John Smith"
Price: 350
Method: displayBookDetails()
Each Book is treated like a real-world object with both data and actions.
📍 Where it is used:
CAD/CAM systems (Computer-Aided Design)
Multimedia applications (images, videos)
Object-oriented databases like db4o, ObjectDB
✅ Why it’s used:
Great for storing complex data
Works well with object-oriented programming languages like Java or
C++
4️⃣ Semi-Structured Data Model
📌 What it is:
Data doesn’t follow a strict table format.
Uses tags or key-value pairs (like XML or JSON).
Useful when data format can vary from record to record.
🎓 Real-Life Example (JSON Data):
"name": "Alice",
"age": 18,
"subjects": ["Math", "Science"]
Here:
No fixed format
Easy to send data on the web (used in APIs)
📍 Where it is used:
Web applications
NoSQL databases (like MongoDB, CouchDB)
REST APIs (used by websites and mobile apps)
✅ Why it’s used:
Flexible structure
Easy to store data from real-world documents, web forms, etc.
📊 Summary Table
Data Model Description Real-Life Use Used In
Example
Relational Data in tables with Student MySQL, Oracle,
Model rows & columns database in a SQL Server
college
ER Model Visual design of Designing a During database
entities & hospital planning
relationships database
Object- Data stored as Storing 3D CAD systems,
Based objects (with models in design multimedia DBs
Model methods) software
Semi- Flexible format Online shopping MongoDB, Web
Structured using XML/JSON cart data APIs, NoSQL DBs
Model
✅ Final Thoughts
A data model is like a blueprint of how your data looks and works.
Different models are used based on the type of data and
application.
The relational model is most common, but others are growing fast
(like JSON in web apps).
🧠 What is a Database Language?
A Database Language is a set of commands used to create, store,
modify, and retrieve data in a database.
Just like we use English or Hindi to talk to people, we use database
languages to talk to databases.
✅ Types of Database Languages
There are four main types of database languages:
🔹 1. Data Definition Language (DDL)
📌 What it does:
Used to define or create the structure of a database.
We can create, modify, and delete tables and schemas.
✏️Examples:
CREATE – to create a table
ALTER – to change structure (like add a column)
DROP – to delete a table
TRUNCATE – to delete all data in a table
🔹 2. Data Manipulation Language (DML)
📌 What it does:
Used to insert, update, delete, or retrieve data from tables.
✏️Examples:
INSERT – to add new data
UPDATE – to modify existing data
DELETE – to remove data
SELECT – to get data from table
🔹 3. Data Control Language (DCL)
📌 What it does:
Used to control access to data in the database.
Mainly used for security.
✏️Examples:
GRANT – give permission
REVOKE – remove permission
🔹 4. Transaction Control Language (TCL)
📌 What it does:
Used to manage transactions (group of operations done
together).
Helps in saving or cancelling changes made to data.
✏️Examples:
COMMIT – save changes permanently
ROLLBACK – undo changes
SAVEPOINT – mark a point to rollback to
✏️Examples:
COMMIT – save changes permanently
ROLLBACK – undo changes
SAVEPOINT – mark a point to rollback to
Think of TCL as an undo/redo button for your database changes.
📋 Summary Table
Language Purpose Common Commands
Type
DDL Defines structure of CREATE, ALTER, DROP,
tables TRUNCATE
DML Works with data inside INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE,
tables SELECT
DCL Controls GRANT, REVOKE
access/permissions
TCL Manages transactions COMMIT, ROLLBACK,
SAVEPOINT
🎓 Real-Life Analogy
Activity Database
Language Used
Designing the form or table – what fields DDL
are needed (name, age)
Filling or changing data in that form DML
Giving permission to someone else to view DCL
or edit the form
Saving or canceling all the changes TCL
