tableperfile

tableperprofile is a database design pattern used in object-relational mapping (ORM) frameworks. This pattern is an implementation of the table-per-hierarchy strategy, which aims to map a class hierarchy to a database schema. Specifically, in the table-per-profile pattern, each concrete class within the hierarchy is represented by its own dedicated table in the database.

This approach means that if you have a base class and several derived classes, each of these classes will have its own table. The tables for the derived classes typically contain columns that are specific to that derived class. To maintain relationships and inherit properties from the base class, foreign key relationships are often established from the derived class tables back to the base class table. This allows for the retrieval of base class properties for any instance, regardless of its specific derived type.

The advantages of table-per-profile include a more normalized database structure, where each table represents a distinct entity. This can lead to simpler queries for specific derived types, as you only need to access a single table. However, it can also result in more complex queries when retrieving data that spans multiple levels of the hierarchy, as joins between multiple tables may be required. The choice to use table-per-profile often depends on the specific ORM being used and the nature of the class hierarchy being modeled.