database

Difference between Data Model and Database Schema in DBMS?


I know the Data Model is basically two types ER-Model and Relational Model & Database schema is also two type Physical and logical.

But I can not understand what is the difference between them based on their operation in DBMS?


Solution

  • A schema is a blueprint of the database which specifies what fields will be present and what would be their types. For example an employee table will have an employee_ID column represented by a string of 10 digits and an employee_Name column with a string of 45 characters.

    Data model is a high level design which decides what can be present in the schema. It provides a database user with a conceptual framework in which we specify the database requirements of the database user and the structure of the database to fulfill these requirements.

    A data model can, for example, be a relational model where the data will be organised in tables whereas the schema for this model would be the set of attributes and their corresponding domains.

    References: Understanding the schema and Database System Concepts (H Korth and A Silberschatz)