The benefit of synchronized modeling

Throughout this chapter, we have seen examples of diagrams describing data models and capturing details that may not have a strict corollary in SQL. By simplifying modeling to its core components—many of which are likely to be understood even by people without a formal background in database design—we ensure that modeling is not confined solely to the database team. As you recall, a model describes not only the database but also the business itself.

Keeping the physical and conceptual models in sync provides another benefit: the model can be viewed at any time at various levels of abstraction because the underlying physical elements remain the same. Users can view the model at a physical level when more detail is needed and flip to a conceptual view if they wish to see it more abstractly.

To illustrate this, the various diagrams in Figure 6.2 are displayed side by side, demonstrating how physical and conceptual elements can be...