What is Entity-Relationship Diagram
A database is a data collection, structured into some conceptual model. Two most common approaches of developing data models are:
- UML diagrams
- ER-model diagrams.
What is Entity-Relationship Diagram? Entity relationship diagrams look very similar to flowcharts, the main difference is the symbols provided by specific ERD notations. There are several models applied in entity-relationship diagrams: conceptual, logical and physical.
Example 1. What is Entity-Relationship Diagram, Crow's foot notation
Creating an entity relationship diagram requires using a specific notation. There are several notations of entity-relationship diagram symbols and their meaning is slightly different. Five main components of common ERD notations are Entities, Actions, Attributes, Cardinality and Connections.

Example 2. What is Entity-Relationship Diagram, Chen's notation
ERD notations
The two of notations most widely used for creating Entity-Relationship Diagrams are:
- Chen's notation
- Crow's foot notation.
Crow’s Foot notation is quite descriptive and easy to understand, meanwhile, the Chen notation is great for conceptual modeling. By the way, the Crow's foot notation originates from the Chen's notation - it is an adapted version of the Chen's notation.
Professional ERD drawing implies knowing of ERD symbols and meanings. Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution from Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park includes icons advocated by Chen's and Crow’s Foot notation that can be used when describing a database.

Example 3. ERD Libraries
In Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM all entity relationship diagram symbols and meaning, work flow shapes, and entity relationship stencils have easy to understand labels helps you while building Entity Relationship Diagram.

Example 4. Entity-Relationship Diagram Symbols
The Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution from ConceptDraw Solution Park extends ConceptDraw DIAGRAM ector graphics and diagramming software with the ability to describe a database using the Entity-Relationship model. Use it to draw with pleasure your own professional-looking Entity-Relationship Diagrams using Chen's or Crow's foot notations.
All source documents are vector graphic documents. They are available for reviewing, modifying, or converting to a variety of formats (PDF file, MS PowerPoint, MS Visio, and many other graphic formats) from the ConceptDraw STORE. The Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) Solution is available for all ConceptDraw DIAGRAM or later users.
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There are many ways to describe a database structure. One of the most usual is to draw an entity relationship diagram (ERD) using a Crow’s Foot notation to represent database elements. If you don’t want to draw it on paper, you should use an appropriate software.
An entity-relationship (ER) diagram is used to show the structure of a business database. ERD represents data as objects (entities) that are connected with standard relationships symbols which Illustrate an association between entities. ERD, there is a wide range of ERD notations used by data bases architects for reflecting the relationships between the data entities. According to the crow’s foot notation relationships are drawn as single labeled lines designating a certain kinds of relationship. Crow foot notation is a most frequently used ERD standard, because of improved readability of diagrams, with a more accurate use of space on the page._Win_Mac.png)
Picture: Entity Relationship Diagram - ERD - Software for Design Crows Foot ER Diagrams
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Database model is a graphic representation need at the beginning of project development. You won't have any problems with drawing ER diagrams on a Mac anymore with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM application. Special libraries that contain all the symbols of both Chen's and Crow’s foot notation allow you to start database modeling within a few minutes.
Creating entity-relationship diagrams on Mac is fun and effortless when you use a software designed for professional ERD drawing tailored to specific characteristics of Apple OS X. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is a business diagramming software for those using OS X.
The Entity-Relationship Diagrams solution for ConceptDraw has 2 libraries containing about 50 vector icons, depicting ERD symbols of the most popular Chen's and Crow’s Foot Notations. The other valuable component of the solution is a collection of ERDs samples and templates that can be opened on Macs and PCs.
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Picture: Entity Relationship Diagram Examples
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It is very difficult to get into database model idea without any examples. To create one, you can use Chen’s notation for Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERD) and try to see all the peculiarities yourself. This notation describes entities and relations as basic geometric shapes like rectangles and diamonds.
Chen notation for Entity-relationship diagrams is used for designing relational databases. It depicts the database entities as a set of subjects. For example events, people, ideas, etc. All entities has common characteristics (attributes). Any object of the system is identified as the sole and unique. The name of entity should indicate the class or type of the the whole object, not a given example. The connection commonly represents a relationship between entities. Conceptdraw Entity-Relationship Diagrams (ERD) solution provides the libraries with ready-to-use ERD element fitting Chen's notation objects and relationships.
Picture: Design Element: Chen for Entity Relationship Diagram - ERD
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Entity Relationship Diagram (aka ERD, ER Diagram, E-R Diagram) is a well-tried software engineering tool for illustrating the logical structure of databases. Professional ERD drawing is an essential software engineering method for database modeling. Use powerful tools of ConceptDraw DIAGRAM Entity Relationship Diagram Software extended with Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) Solution.
Picture: Entity Relationship Diagram Software
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