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Enhanced ER

The document discusses the Enhanced Entity-Relationship (EER) model, which addresses the limitations of the basic ER model by incorporating additional semantic modeling concepts such as specialization/generalization, aggregation, and composition. It explains the relationships and constraints involved in specialization/generalization, including participation and disjoint constraints. Additionally, it provides examples and diagrams to illustrate these concepts in the context of database applications.

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Afra R. Siddiqui
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23 views23 pages

Enhanced ER

The document discusses the Enhanced Entity-Relationship (EER) model, which addresses the limitations of the basic ER model by incorporating additional semantic modeling concepts such as specialization/generalization, aggregation, and composition. It explains the relationships and constraints involved in specialization/generalization, including participation and disjoint constraints. Additionally, it provides examples and diagrams to illustrate these concepts in the context of database applications.

Uploaded by

Afra R. Siddiqui
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Enhanced Entity-

Relationship Modeling
Objectives
 Limitations of basic concepts of the ER model and requirements to
represent more complex applications using additional data modeling
concepts.

 Most useful additional data modeling concepts of Enhanced ER (EER)


model called:
 specialization/generalization;
 aggregation;
 composition.

 A diagrammatic technique for displaying specialization/generalization,


aggregation, and composition in an EER diagram using UML.
Enhanced Entity-Relationship
Model
 Since 1980s there has been an increase in emergence of new
database applications with more demanding requirements.

 Basic concepts of ER modeling are not sufficient to represent


requirements of newer, more complex applications.

 Response is development of additional ‘semantic’ modeling


concepts.
The Enhanced Entity-
Relationship Model
 Semantic concepts are incorporated into the original ER model and
called the Enhanced Entity-Relationship (EER) model.

 Examples of additional concepts of EER model are:


 specialization / generalization;
 aggregation;
 composition.
Specialization / Generalization
 Superclass
 An entity type that includes one or more distinct subgroupings of its
occurrences.

 Subclass
 A distinct subgrouping of occurrences of an entity type.
Specialization / Generalization
 Superclass/subclass relationship is one-
to-one (1:1).
 Superclass may contain overlapping or
distinct subclasses.
 Notall members of a superclass need be
a member of a subclass.

6
AllStaff Relation Holding Details of all
Staff

7
Specialization / Generalization
 Attribute Inheritance
 An entity in a subclass represents same ‘real world’
object as in superclass, and may possess subclass-
specific attributes, as well as those associated with the
superclass.
Specialization / Generalization
 Specialization
 Process of maximizing differences between members of an
entity by identifying their distinguishing characteristics.

 Generalization
 Process of minimizing differences between entities by
identifying their common characteristics.
Specialization/Generalization of Staff Entity
into Subclasses Representing Job Roles
Specialization/Generalization of Staff Entity
into Job Roles and Contracts of Employment
EER Diagram with Shared Subclass and
Subclass with its own Subclass
Constraints on Specialization /
Generalization
 Two constraints that may apply to a
specialization/generalization:
 participation constraints,
 disjoint constraints.

 Participation constraint
 Determines whether every member in superclass
must participate as a member of a subclass.
 May be mandatory or optional.
Constraints on Specialization /
Generalization
 Disjoint constraint
 Describes relationship between members of the
subclasses and indicates whether member of a
superclass can be a member of one, or more
than one, subclass.
 May be disjoint or nondisjoint.
Constraints on Specialization /
Generalization
 There are four categories of constraints of specialization and
generalization:
 mandatory and disjoint;
 optional and disjoint;
 mandatory and nondisjoint;
 optional and nondisjoint.
DreamHome Worked Example - Staff Superclass with
Supervisor and Manager Subclasses
DreamHome Worked Example - Owner Superclass
with PrivateOwner and BusinessOwner Subclasses
DreamHome Worked Example - Person Superclass with
Staff, PrivateOwner, and Client Subclasses
EER Diagram of Branch View of DreamHome with
Specialization/Generalization
Aggregation
 Represents a ‘has-a’ or ‘is-part-of’ relationship
between entity types, where one represents the
‘whole’ and the other ‘the part’.
Examples of Aggregation
Composition
 Specific form of aggregation that represents an
association between entities, where there is a
strong ownership and coincidental lifetime
between the ‘whole’ and the ‘part’.
Example of Composition

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