The Data Model Resource Book, Volume 3: Universal Patterns for Data Modeling

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What Is a Pattern and What Is a Universal Pattern? 5

focus of this book. Although many standards exist for data modeling, we need

to take data modeling to the next level: providing accessibility to libraries of

universal data patterns with examples in a convenient format so that they can

be reused. That is the intention of this book.

What Is a Pattern and What I s a Universal Pattern?

In general, a pattern is ‘‘something intended as a guide for making something

else.’’

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A pattern in data modeling can be described as a template that can

serve as a guide for developing data models. For example, the status patterns

in Chapter 6 provide guides or templates for modeling the statuses for any

type of entity. Thus, the status patterns may apply to the status of a PARTY,

PRODUCT, ORDER, INVOICE, or any other entity that has various states. A

PARTY may have states or statuses of ‘‘Active,’’ ‘‘Inactive,’’ and so on, and a

PRODUCT may have statuses of ‘‘Introduced,’’ ‘‘Support discontinued,’’ and

so on. Both of these entities could use the same ‘‘pattern’’ to model their states.

The word universal is defined in Webster’s dictionary as ‘‘applying to a

great variety of uses: comprehending, affecting or extending to the whole.’’

Thus Universal Patterns for Data Modeling are reusable guides that provide

a data modeling template for very prevalent or ‘‘universal’’ themes ...