Editing Data model (section)

=== Data modeling ===
{{Main|Data modeling}}
[[File:4-3 Data Modelling Today.svg|320px|thumb|The data modeling process]] 
Data modeling in [[software engineering]] is the process of creating a data model by applying formal data model descriptions using data modeling techniques. Data modeling is a technique for defining business [[requirement]]s for a database. It is sometimes called ''database modeling'' because a data model is eventually implemented in a database.<ref name="WBD04">[[Whitten, Jeffrey L.]]; [[Lonnie D. Bentley]], [[Kevin C. Dittman]]. (2004). ''Systems Analysis and Design Methods''. 6th edition. {{ISBN|0-256-19906-X}}.</ref>

The figure illustrates the way data models are developed and used today. A [[conceptual data model]] is developed based on the data [[requirements]] for the application that is being developed, perhaps in the context of an [[activity diagram|activity model]]. The data model will normally consist of entity types, attributes, relationships, integrity rules, and the definitions of those objects. This is then used as the start point for interface or [[database design]].<ref name="MW99"/>