DEV Community

Shawn Smith
Shawn Smith

Posted on • Edited on

Mapping it Out

Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) is a programming technique that allows developers to map object-oriented programming models to relational databases. ORM is a tool that bridges the gap between object-oriented programming and relational databases. It allows developers to write code in an object-oriented programming language like Python and save the data in a relational database like MySQL or Oracle.

ORM is a powerful tool that has revolutionized the way developers interact with databases. With ORM, developers no longer have to write complex SQL queries to interact with the database. Instead, they can use simple object-oriented code to perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations on the database.

ORM is based on the principle of mapping objects to tables. Every object in an ORM framework has a corresponding table in the database. The properties of the object are mapped to the columns of the table. For example, if you have an object called Customer with properties like Name, Email, and Phone, these properties would be mapped to the columns of the Customer table in the database.

ORM frameworks provide a layer of abstraction between the application and the database. This means that developers can work with high-level abstractions like objects and classes instead of low-level constructs like tables and columns. This makes it easier for developers to write code and maintain their applications.

ORM frameworks also provide features like lazy loading, caching, and transaction management. Lazy loading is a technique that allows the ORM framework to load only the data that is needed at a given time. This helps to improve performance and reduce memory usage. Caching is a technique that allows the ORM framework to store frequently accessed data in memory for faster access. Transaction management is a feature that allows developers to perform multiple database operations as a single atomic transaction.

ORM frameworks have become an essential tool for modern web development. They help developers to write code faster, improve performance, and reduce the complexity of database interactions. A popular frame work is Django for Python.

In conclusion, ORM is a powerful tool that has revolutionized the way developers interact with databases. It allows developers to work with high-level abstractions like objects and classes instead of low-level constructs like tables and columns. ORM frameworks provide features like lazy loading, caching, and transaction management that improve performance and reduce the complexity of database interactions. ORM has become an essential tool for modern web development and is a must-know technology for any aspiring developer.

Top comments (0)