ERD Chart

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Entity Relationship Diagram Configuration

Entities

Define your database entities and their attributes. Each entity represents a table in your database schema.

Entities

Attributes
Attributes
Attributes
Attributes

Relationships

Define relationships between entities. Specify cardinality and whether the relationship is identifying or non-identifying.

Relationships

Display Settings

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What is an ERD Chart?

An Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) is a visual blueprint of a relational database, showing tables as entities, columns as attributes, and lines as the relationships between them. ERDs are essential for database design, helping teams align on schema structure before writing a single line of SQL. Use one when planning a new application, documenting an existing database, or communicating how your data fits together across a system.

Key Features

1

Entity Blocks with Attributes

Define each database table as an entity with named attributes, data types, and optional comments — exactly like a schema spec.

2

PK, FK, and UK Annotations

Mark primary keys, foreign keys, and unique keys directly on attributes so relationships and constraints are immediately clear.

3

Cardinality Notation

Set source and target cardinality per relationship — exactly one, zero or one, one or more, zero or more — using standard crow's foot symbols.

4

Identifying vs Non-Identifying Relationships

Distinguish whether a child entity depends on the parent for its identity, a critical distinction for correct normalization.

5

Flexible Layout Directions

Arrange entities top-to-bottom, left-to-right, or any orientation to fit the natural flow of your schema.

6

Zoom and Pan Navigation

Explore large, complex diagrams with smooth zoom and pan so no entity gets lost off-screen.

Best For

Designing relational database schemas before development
Documenting an existing database for a new team member
Planning foreign key constraints and join paths
Backend architecture reviews and technical specs
Data modeling for SaaS, e-commerce, or internal tools
Teaching relational database concepts with a live visual

When to Use

  • You are designing a new database and need to map out tables and relationships before writing SQL
  • You need to communicate schema structure to developers, analysts, or stakeholders
  • You are auditing or refactoring a legacy database and want a clear picture first
  • You need to identify missing foreign keys or redundant tables
  • You are onboarding someone to an existing system and want a single reference diagram
  • You are writing technical documentation that must include a data model

Common Mistakes

  • !
    Skipping foreign key annotations — relationship lines alone do not show which attribute carries the FK
  • !
    Cramming every column into one diagram instead of focusing on the key attributes that define relationships
  • !
    Leaving relationship lines unlabeled, so viewers cannot tell what the association means
  • !
    Mixing cardinality styles mid-diagram (Chen notation circles vs. crow's foot) — pick one and stick to it
  • !
    Not distinguishing identifying from non-identifying relationships, which changes how child records are keyed
  • !
    Drawing many-to-many relationships directly instead of introducing the junction table that implements them

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