ORM, or Object-Relational Mapping, is a technique used in computer software engineering to facilitate the integration and manipulation of data between object-oriented systems and relational databases. It serves as a bridge between the object-oriented paradigm of programming languages and the relational data model used by database systems.
In simpler terms, ORM is a programming tool that simplifies and automates the process of mapping data between objects in an application and the corresponding tables in a database. It enables developers to interact with databases using object-oriented syntax and methods, instead of writing complex SQL queries.
ORM effectively abstracts away the complexities of dealing with relational databases, allowing developers to focus more on high-level application logic and less on the intricate details of database operations. By linking object instances directly to database rows, ORM frameworks provide methods and mechanisms for creating, reading, updating, and deleting data in a database using object-oriented concepts like classes, attributes, and methods.
One of the key advantages of using ORM is the reduction of boilerplate code, as it eliminates the need for developers to manually write SQL statements and manually map relational database schema to object-oriented domain models. Furthermore, ORM frameworks often include features such as lazy loading, caching, and query optimization, enhancing the performance and efficiency of database operations.
Overall, ORM is a powerful tool that simplifies database interaction by bridging the gap between object-oriented programming languages and relational databases, making data manipulation in applications easier and more efficient.
