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# Object-Relational Mappings

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An object-relational mapping transforms certain object data member types to structured data source representations optimized for storage in specialized object-relational databases such as Oracle Database. Object-relational mappings allow you to map an object model into an object-relational data-model.

Use object-relational mappings in relational projects. For more information, see "Relational Projects".

For more information about object-relational mappings, see Understanding Object-Relational Mappings and Configuring an Object-Relational Mapping.

Note:

Do not confuse object-relational mappings with relational mappings (see "Relational Mappings"). A relational mapping transforms any object data member type to a corresponding relational database (SQL) data source representation in any supported relational database. Relational mappings allow you to map an object model into a relational data-model. In general, you can use relational mappings with any supported relational database. You can only use Object-relational mappings with specialized object-relational databases optimized to support object-relational data source representations.

TopLink provides the following object-relational mappings:

- Configuring an Object-Relational Structure Mapping

- Configuring an Object-Relational Reference Mapping

- Configuring an Object-Relational Array Mapping

- Configuring an Object-Relational Object Array Mapping

- Configuring an Object-Relational Nested Table Mapping