Entity

An Entity is an abstract data type that defines a logical data aggregation and its associated default characteristics and behavior. It may be mapped to a table in a DBMS, and is most frequently used to represent the application data, but it can also represent transient data, a collection of controls, or constant data.

Entities have properties that can be used to declare basic data storage behavior and validation rules. They also have associated triggers for scripting behavior, such as retrieving data, adding or removing records (known as occurrences), and storing data.

The term entity is often used generically, and depending on the context, may refer to modeled entities, component entities, or even to occurrences. For more information, see Modeled Entities, Component Entities and Fields and Occurrences.

Characteristics

Characteristics

  

Icon:

Entity icon

Object type code:

ent

Main Development Object?

No

Part of:

Development Object

Contains:

Field, Key, Relationship, Property, Code Container

Generalization:

Development Object

Specializations:

Modeled Entity, Component Entity

 

Compilation Output:

—

URI format:

ent:EntityName.Namespace

Specialization

Entity specializes Development Object in the following ways:

  • It can contain fields, keys, and relationships

Properties

Source Properties:

  • Date Modified

Configuration Properties: