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8.2: Attributes

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    Each entity is described by a set of attributes (e.g., Employee = (Name, Address, Birthdate (Age), Salary).

    Each attribute has a name, and is associated with an entity and a domain of legal values. However, the information about attribute domain is not presented on the ERD.

    In the entity relationship diagram, shown in Figure 8.2.1, each attribute is represented by an oval with a name inside.

    One blue rectangle with the word EMPLOYEE. This is connected with a line to four separate yellow ovals. Each has a different word inside it: Name, Address, Birthdate, Salary.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): How attributes are represented in an ERD.

    Types of Attributes

    There are a few types of attributes you need to be familiar with. Some of these are to be left as is, but some need to be adjusted to facilitate representation in the relational model. This first section will discuss the types of attributes. Later on we will discuss fixing the attributes to fit correctly into the relational model.

    Simple attributes

    Simple attributes are those drawn from the atomic value domains; they are also called single-valued attributes. In the COMPANY database, an example of this would be: Name = {John} ; Age = {23}

    Composite attributes

    Composite attributes are those that consist of a hierarchy of attributes. Using our database example, and shown in Figure 8.2.2, Address may consist of Number, Street and Suburb. So this would be written as → Address = {59 + ‘Meek Street’ + ‘Kingsford’}

    Blue rectangle with the word EMPLOYEE. Under this are four yellow ovals with the words Name, Address, Birthdate, Salary. There are lines between the rectangle and yellow ovals. Under the Address oval are three white ovals with the words Number, Street, Suburb.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): An example of composite attributes.

    Multivalued attributes

    Multivalued attributes are attributes that have a set of values for each entity. An example of a multivalued attribute from the COMPANY database, as seen in Figure 8.2.3, are the degrees of an employee: BSc, MIT, PhD.

    Blue rectangle with the word EMPLOYEE. A line connects this to each of five yellow ovals with these words inside the ovals: Degrees, Name, Address, Birthdate, Salary
    Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Example of a multivalued attribute.

    Derived attributes

    Derived attributes are attributes that contain values calculated from other attributes. An example of this can be seen in Figure 8.2.4.  Age can be derived from the attribute Birthdate. In this situation, Birthdate is called a stored attribute, which is physically saved to the database.

    Blue rectangle with the word EMPLOYEE, and connected by a line to five different yellow ovals with the words: Age, Name, Address, Birthdate, Salary.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): Example of a derived attribute.

    8.2: Attributes is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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