Entity–attribute–value model

Entity–attribute–value model (EAV) is a data model to describe entities where the number of attributes (properties, parameters) that can be used to describe them is potentially vast, but the number that will actually apply to a given entity is relatively modest.

Description

In mathematics, this model is known as a sparse matrix.

Equivalent terms include:

• Object–attribute–value model
• Vertical database model
• Open schema

See also

• Data model
• Sparse matrix

External links

• Entity–attribute–value model @ Wikipedia