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PubMed · 17098467

Guidelines for the effective use of entity-attribute-value modeling for biomedical databases.

Valentin Dinu·Prakash Nadkarni
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Abstract

PURPOSE: To introduce the goals of EAV database modeling, to describe the situations where entity-attribute-value (EAV) modeling is a useful alternative to conventional relational methods of database modeling, and to describe the fine points of implementation in production systems. METHODS: We analyze the following circumstances: (1) data are sparse and have a large number of applicable attributes, but only a small fraction will apply to a given entity; (2) numerous classes of data need to be represented, each class has a limited number of attributes, but the number of instances of each class is very small. We also consider situations calling for a mixed approach where both conventional and EAV design are used for appropriate data classes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In robust production systems, EAV-modeled databases trade a modest data sub-schema for a complex metadata sub-schema. The need to design the metadata effectively makes EAV design potentially more challenging than conventional design.

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Database Management SystemsEfficiency, OrganizationalGuidelines as TopicHumansMedical Informatics ApplicationsModels, OrganizationalUnited StatesJournal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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Valentin Dinu, Prakash Nadkarni. 2006-11-13. Guidelines for the effective use of entity-attribute-value modeling for biomedical databases.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2006.09.023

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