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Databases Intermediate

What is ORM (Object-Relational Mapping)?

A technique that lets you interact with a database using object-oriented code instead of writing raw SQL queries.

ORMs map database tables to classes and rows to objects, abstracting SQL behind a programmatic interface. Instead of writing "SELECT * FROM users WHERE id=1", you write User.find(1) or similar.

Popular ORMs include SQLAlchemy (Python), Eloquent (PHP/Laravel), ActiveRecord (Ruby), Hibernate (Java), and Prisma (JavaScript). ORMs improve productivity but can hide performance issues — knowing SQL remains important.

Related Terms

Crosstab Query
A query that transforms rows into columns, creating a pivot table view of aggregated data.
Materialized View
A database object that stores the precomputed result of a query, offering faster reads at the cost of periodic refresh.
Time-Series Database
A database optimized for storing and querying timestamped data points like metrics, sensor readings, and event logs.
Database Backup
The process of creating copies of database data to protect against data loss from failures, corruption, or human error.
Full-Text Search
A technique for searching natural language text in databases using word stemming, ranking, and relevance scoring.
Soft Delete
A pattern where records are marked as deleted with a flag or timestamp rather than being physically removed from the database.
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