Advantages and Disadvantages of ER Model in DBMS

ER model is a logical representation of an enterprise data. ER model is a diagrammatic representation of logical structure of database.

ER model describes relationship among entities and attributes.

ER diagram is firstly developed by Peter Chen in 1976.

Advantages of ER Model

Conceptually it is very simple: ER model is very simple because if we know relationship between entities and attributes, then we can easily draw an ER diagram.

Better visual representation: ER model is a diagrammatic representation of any logical structure of database. By seeing ER diagram, we can easily understand relationship among entities and relationship.

Effective communication tool: It is an effective communication tool for database designer.

Highly integrated with relational model: ER model can be easily converted into relational model by simply converting ER model into tables.

Easy conversion to any data model: ER model can be easily converted into another data model like hierarchical data model, network data model and so on.

Disadvantages of ER Model

Limited constraints and specification

Loss of information content: Some information be lost or hidden in ER model

Limited relationship representation: ER model represents limited relationship as compared to another data models like relational model etc.

No representation of data manipulation: It is difficult to show data manipulation in ER model.

Popular for high level design: ER model is very popular for designing high level design

No industry standard for notation