Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Modeling

Conceptual Data Models

A Conceptual Data Model (CDM) represents the logical structure of a data system independent of any software or data storage structure. It gives a formal representation of the data needed to run an enterprise or a business activity, and may contain data objects not yet implemented in a physical database.

A CDM allows you to:

• Represent the organization of data in a graphic format to create Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERD).
• Verify the validity of data design.
• Generate a Logical Data Model (LDM), a Physical Data Model (PDM) or an Object-Oriented Model (OOM), which specifies an object representation of the CDM using the UML standard.

To create a CDM, see Creating a Data Model. For detailed information about conceptual diagrams, see "Conceptual Diagram Basics" in the Building Conceptual and Logical Diagrams chapter.

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