This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the ConceptDraw site you are agreeing to our Use of Site Cookies.

ERD Symbols and Meanings

Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) is a popular software engineering tool for database modeling and illustration the logical structure of databases, which uses one of two notations - Chen's or Crow’s Foot. Crow's foot notation is effective when used in software engineering, information engineering, structured systems analysis and design. Each of these notations applies its own set of ERD symbols. Crow's foot diagrams use boxes to represent entities and lines between these boxes to show relationships. Varied shapes at the ends of lines depict the cardinality of a given relationship. Chen's ERD notation is more detailed way to represent entities and relationships. ConceptDraw PRO application enhanced with all-inclusive Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution allows design professional ER diagrams with Chen's or Crow’s Foot notation on your choice. It contains the full set of ready-to-use standardized ERD symbols and meanings helpful for quickly drawing, collection of predesigned ERD samples, examples and templates. ConceptDraw Pro is a great alternative to Visio for Mac users as it offers more features and can easily handle the most demanding professional needs.
How to Build an Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD)
How to Build an Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD)

Entity Relationship Diagram Symbols

The semantic modeling method nowadays is successfully applied in database structure design. It is effective method of modeling the data structures, which is based on the meaning of these data. As a tool of semantic modeling, there are used different types of Entity-Relationship Diagrams. Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) is applied to visually and clearly represent a structure of a business database. The main components of ERDs are: entity, relation and attributes. An entity is a class of similar objects in the model, each entity is depicted in the form of rectangle and has the name expressed by a noun. Relation is shown in the form of non-directional line that connects two entities. There are several notation styles used for ERDs: information engineering style, Chen style, Bachman style, Martin Style. The Entity Relationship Diagram symbols used for professional ERD drawing are predesigned by professionals and collected in the libraries of the Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution for ConceptDraw PRO software.

Entity Relationship Diagram Software for Mac

Great part of modern approaches to the database design are based on the use of different versions of ER-models. The important feature of entity-relationship model is that it can be visually represented as a graphical diagram. ER-models and Entity Relationship Diagrams are so popular due to the simplicity and the presentation clarity. The conceptual basis led to their widespread use in CASE-systems, which support automatic design of relational databases. The typical concepts for ER-models are entity, relation and attribute. Relation is a graphically represented association between two entities, that establishes certain rules and all instances of the linked entity types are subject to these rules. In common ER-model this association is always binary. For representing entity-relationship elements, there are used Crow’s foot and Chen notations. ConceptDraw PRO is a famous Entity Relationship Diagram software for Mac OSX which gives the ability to describe visually the databases with Chen’s and Crow’s Foot notation icons from Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution.

Flowchart Components

The ConceptDraw Flowchart component includes a set of samples and templates. This geathered as flowchart maker toolbox which focused on drawing flowcharts of any industry standards.

Data Modeling Diagram

The vector stencils library Activity diagrams from the solution Rapid UML contains specific data modeling symbols for ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software. The Rapid UML solution is contained in the Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

ConceptDraw PRO Database Modeling Software

ConceptDraw PRO is a very easy-to-use and intuitive database design tool which can save you hundreds of work hours. See database diagram samples created with ConceptDraw PRO database modeling database diagram software.

UML Composite Structure Diagram. Design Elements

UML Composite Structure Diagram shows the internal structure of a class and the possible interactions at this structure. ConceptDraw has 393 vector stencils in the 13 libraries that helps you to start using software for designing your own UML Diagrams. You can use the appropriate stencils of UML notation from UML Composite Structure library.

Introduction to Cloud Computing Architecture

The best way to visualize the introduction to Cloud computing architecture is to create diagrams and schematics representing what is a cloud computing and how it works. For their design, we recommend to use a powerful ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software supplied with Cloud Computing Diagrams solution from the Computers and Network area of ConceptDraw Solution Park

Technical Drawing Software

Technical drawing or draft is a form of specialized graphic communication, exchange of ideas in industry and engineering. It is a visual representation of object with indication of dimensions and used material, constructed with maintaining the proportions between its parts. Technical drawings are constructed by architects, technologists, engineers, designers, drafters, and other technical professionals according to defined rules, specifications, internationally accepted standards and standardized notations allowing to make unambiguous, clear and understandable technical drawings. ConceptDraw PRO extended with Electrical Engineering solution, Mechanical Engineering solution, Chemical and Process Engineering solution from Industrial Engineering Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park is ideal technical drawing software. Its powerful drawing tools, predesigned vector objects, templates, samples are helpful for creation all kinds of Technical Drawings and Technical Diagrams, Electrical and Mechanical Schematics, Circuit and Wiring Diagrams, Structural Drawings, and many other.

System Design

ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software supplied with Specification and Description Language (SDL) solution from the Engineering area of ConceptDraw Solution Park offers the set of useful tools which make it ideal System Design Software.