Reference model: Difference between revisions

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== Overview ==

There are a number of conceptsconcept rolled up into that of a 'reference model.' Each of these concepts is important:

* ''Abstract'': a reference model is abstract. The things described by a reference model are not actual things, but an abstract representation of things. Therefore, when describing the architecture of a house, an actual exterior wall may have dimensions and materials, but the concept of a wall is part of the reference model. One must understand the concept of a wall in order to build a house that has walls.

* ''Entities and Relationships'': A reference model contains both entities (things that exist) and relationships (how they interact with one another). A list of entities, by itself, is not sufficient to describe a reference model.