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# Object-Relational Reference Mapping

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In an object-relational data model, structures reference each other through refs–not through foreign keys (as in a traditional data model). Refs are based on the target structure's `ObjectID`. They represent an object reference in Java.

TopLink maps refs with the `ReferenceMapping` class. The reference mapping does not require foreign key information (because of the object-relational support of the database).

See "Configuring an Object-Relational Reference Mapping" for more information.