ownedBy

OwnedBy is a conventional attribute name used in software data models to indicate who owns a resource. It is typically implemented as a relationship or reference that points to a user, account, or other owner entity. In most domains, a resource has a single owner, while an owner may hold multiple resources.

In relational databases, ownedBy is commonly realized as a foreign key such as owner_id that references a Users table. In application code, the field is often named ownedBy (camelCase) or ownerId, with the database layer sometimes using snake_case (owner_id).

Ownership frequently informs access control. Applications may grant permissions based on ownership, defaulting actions to the owner and requiring additional authorization for non-owners. Transfer of ownership typically involves updating the reference while preserving referential integrity.

In APIs and data models, ownedBy may appear as a scalar identifier (ownerId) or as a nested object (owner) that resolves to the owner's profile. GraphQL, REST, and ORM frameworks commonly expose ownedBy as part of resource representations.

Design considerations include choosing a clear naming convention, ensuring proper indexing for efficient queries, and enforcing security constraints. When modeling, consider whether to allow ownership transfers, multiple owners, or composite ownership, and document the semantics for collaborators.

Related concepts include ownership, access control, and foreign keys. Variants include owner, owned_by, and ownerId, with differences largely arising from language and framework conventions. Understanding ownedBy helps clarify relationships and permissions in data models and APIs.