Difference between EAV and flat model

[dennis123]

Difference between EAV and flat model

[davidsmith21]

EAV is entity attribute value database model, where data is fully in normalized form.

The flat model uses just one table, so it’s not normalized and uses more database space.

[fayeseom]

EAV is an entity attribute value database model, where data is fully in normalized form. Each column data value is stored in their respective data type table.
On the other hand, the Flat model uses only one table, therefore it’s not normalized and uses more database space. It clears the EAV overhead

It’s good when comes to performance, as it will only require one query to load whole product instead of joining 5-6 tables to get just one product’s details.

In the flat model, columns are called fields.

[emmaaqueenn]

EAV is entity attribute value database model, where data is fully in normalized form. Each column data value is stored in their respective data type table. ... Flat model uses just one table, so it's not normalized and uses more database space.

[simicartan]

What are the differences between EAV and Flat model? EAV is entity attribute value database model, where data is fully in normalized form. Each column data value is stored in their respective data type table. ... Flat model uses just one table, so it's not normalized and uses more database space.

[Sherin]

EAV

EAV is an entity attribute value database model, where data is fully in normalized form. Each column data value is stored in their respective data type table. For instance, for a product,

product ID is stored in catalog_product_entity_int table,

product name in catalog_product_entity_varchar table,

product price in catalog_product_entity_decimal table,

product created date in catalog_product_entity_datetime table,

product description in catalog_product_entity_text table.

EAV is composite of 5 to 6 tables even if you just want to get one product’s details.

Every column is called an attribute in EAV.


Flat

On the other hand, the Flat model uses only one table, therefore it’s not normalized and uses more database space. It clears the EAV overhead

It’s good when comes to performance, as it will only require one query to load whole product instead of joining 5-6 tables to get just one product’s details.

In the flat model, columns are called fields.

Magento implemented indexers which will periodically query the standard collections and populate flat database tables in following format. Where * is store id.

catalog_category_flat_store_*

catalog_product_flat_*

These tables have non-normalized product and category data that’s intended to be read only. This allows Magento to fetch category and product data in a single query.

[jesica]

EAV is an entity attribute value database model, where data is fully in normalized form. Each column data value is stored in their respective data type table. The flat model uses just one table, so it's not normalized and uses more database space.

[yuva12]

EAV is an entity attribute value database model, where data is fully in normalized form. Each column data value is stored in their respective data type table. The flat model uses just one table, so it's not normalized and uses more database space.

[iastitlesearch]

1. EAV model is very useful when we want to add a field in a table structure, not need to modify the structure. In the Data model, when we add a new field then modify the table structure.

2. EAV model is very complex for (select, insert and update query) because we use relation from many tables. The data model is very easy to (select, insert and update query)

3. EAV model is slow and the Data model is fast than the EAV model.

[yuva12]

EAV is an entity attribute value database model, where data is fully in normalized form. Each column data value is stored in their respective data type table. The flat model uses just one table, so it's not normalized and uses more database space.