This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the ConceptDraw site you are agreeing to our Use of Site Cookies.

Entity Relationship Diagram Symbols

Creating an entity-relationship (ER) model is to visually represent the structure of a business database, where data equates to entities (or objects) that are linked by defined relationships expressing dependencies and requirements. By nature it is an abstract visualization, the first step in the design process towards creating a logical and functional database.
ERD symbols used for professional ERD drawing are collected in libraries from the Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM.

ConceptDraw DIAGRAM ER Diagram Tool

ER-diagram is a tool used for database modeling which allows to determine data and relationships among the data. These diagrams help to detail data storages and to document all the properties of designed system. ER-diagram contains entities, attributes of the entities and the relationships between them. Chen’s notation and Crow’s foot notation are commonly used to represent elements in ER-model. To create such diagram you should use specific software, such as Entity-Relationship Diagram solution for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM.
ConceptDraw ER Diagram Tool works across any platform, meaning you never have to worry about compatibility again. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM allows you to make Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) on PC or macOS operating systems.

Notation & Symbols for ERD

The ER diagram is constructed from the specific ERD graphic elements. There are used 2 types of ERD notations: Chen and Crow's Foot.
A complete set of work flow shapes, notation & symbols for ERD, entity relationship stencils, included in Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software, makes drawing diagrams based on ERD notation as smooth as possible.

ERD Symbols and Meanings

Crow's foot notation is used in Barker's Notation, Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (SSADM) and information engineering. Crow's foot diagrams represent entities as boxes, and relationships as lines between the boxes. Different shapes at the ends of these lines represent the cardinality of the relationship.
The Chen's ERD notation is still used and is considered to present a more detailed way of representing entities and relationships.
To create an ERD, software engineers mainly turn to dedicated drawing software, which contain the full notation resources for their specific database design - ERD symbols and meanings. CS Odessa has released an all-inclusive Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution for their powerful drawing program, ConceptDraw DIAGRAM.
How to Build an Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD)
How to Build an Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD)

IDEF1X Standard

Use Case Diagrams technology. IDEF1x standard - for work with relational data bases. IDEF1x standard is meant for constructing of conceptual schemes which represent the structure of data in the context of the concerned system, for example, a commercial organization.

Entity Relationship Software

Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERD) illustrate the logical structure of databases.
The vector graphic diagrams produced when using the ConceptDraw ERD solution can be used in whitepapers, presentations, datasheets, posters, or any technical materials.
It is convenient to design ER Diagrams using ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM extended with the Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution supports Chen's and Crow’s Foot notations that are often used to describe database structure.

Design Element: Crows Foot for Entity Relationship Diagram - ERD

Creating an ERD requires choosing a specific set of notations that best serve the specific database being designed. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software extended with Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution from Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park allows you to draw ER diagrams for depicting a database using the ERD diagram design element Crow's Foot - Crow′s Foot notation icons.

Entity Relationship Diagram - ERD - Software for Design Crows Foot ER Diagrams

Crow's Foot notation was proposed by Gordon Everest. According to this notation, the entity is represented by rectangle, relation is depicted by line which ties two entities involved in a relationship. Entity-relationship diagrams based on both Chen's and Crow's Foot notations, can be easily drawn using the ConceptDraw DIAGRAM ERD diagrams software tools for design element Crow's Foot and Chen from Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution.
How to Build an Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD)
How to Build an Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD)

Entity Relationship Diagram - ERD - Software for Design Chen ER Diagrams

The Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution from ConceptDraw Solution Park extends ConceptDraw DIAGRAM vector graphics and diagramming software with the ability to describe a database using the Entity-Relationship (Chen) model. Use it for design your ERDs and verify that ConceptDraw DIAGRAM offers the best ERD diagrams software tools for design element Chen notation.

Anyone Have an ERD Symbols Quick Reference?

ERD drawing becomes easier with predesigned entity relationship symbols, work flow shapes, entity relationship stencils. All variety of ERD symbols you may need for ERDs design is packed into libraries and templates from Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) Solution for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software.
But anyone have an ERD symbols quick reference? Detailed reference information for them is represented at the tables.