data modeling
compound.compound. the process of creating a map or plan for how information is stored and organized in a computer system. It helps people understand how different pieces of data relate to each other.
compound. the process of defining and analyzing data requirements needed to support business processes within the scope of corresponding information systems. It involves creating a conceptual representation of data objects and the associations between them.
Good data modeling makes it easier to find information in a database.
Before building the new app, the engineering team spent weeks on data modeling to ensure the user profiles and payment history were linked correctly.
Effective data modeling is essential for maintaining data integrity and scalability, as it provides a standardized blueprint that prevents redundancy and ensures consistent query performance across the enterprise.
A compound formed from the Latin-derived 'data', the plural of 'datum' meaning a piece of information, and the present participle of 'model', which traces to the Middle French 'modelle'. The pairing emerged as a standard technical collocation during the development of database management systems in the 1960s.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often functions as a compound noun; typically used in technical or business contexts regarding software development and database design.
Last updated July 22, 2026