Object-Relational Mappings

An object-relational mapping transforms certain object data member types to structured data source representations optimized for storage in specialized object-relational databases such as Oracle Database. Object-relational mappings allow you to map an object model into an object-relational data-model.

Use object-relational mappings in relational projects. For more information, see "Relational Projects".

For more information about object-relational mappings, see Chapter 46, "Understanding Object-Relational Mappings" and Chapter 47, "Configuring an Object-Relational Mapping".

Note:

Do not confuse object-relational mappings with relational mappings (see "Relational Mappings"). A relational mapping transforms any object data member type to a corresponding relational database (SQL) data source representation in any supported relational database. Relational mappings allow you to map an object model into a relational data-model. In general, you can use relational mappings with any supported relational database. You can only use Object-relational mappings with specialized object-relational databases optimized to support object-relational data source representations.

TopLink provides the following object-relational mappings: