ODMModell

ODMModell (Object-Document Mapping Modell) is a conceptual framework used in software engineering to describe how an object-oriented domain model can be persisted in a document-oriented database. It formalizes the mapping between high-level domain constructs such as classes, attributes, and relationships, and low-level document structures such as documents, fields, and embedded documents or references. The ODMModell aims to separate the domain representation from storage details, enabling consistent persistence logic across applications and supporting tooling for code generation, validation, and migration.

Core components of the ODMModell include a domain model that expresses entities and their behavior, a document model that specifies how data is stored, a set of mapping rules that translate objects to documents and vice versa, and serialization/deserialization mechanisms. It also accounts for identity management, lifecycle events, and validation constraints, as well as schema evolution strategies for updates over time.

Mapping strategies typically center on embedding versus referencing. Embedding stores related data inside a single document to optimize read performance, while referencing uses separate documents for related entities to reduce duplication and support selective loading. The ODMModell also guides indexing and query translation, helping developers align application queries with storage capabilities.

In practice, the ODMModell supports the design of persistence layers, guides the configuration of ODM libraries, and aids in migration planning when the underlying document store evolves. Its main limitation is the potential mismatch between object-oriented models and document structures, which can lead to over- or under- normalization depending on use case.

See also: Object-Document Mapping, Document-oriented database, Data modeling.