Attribute styling (ERD)

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ERD's markers are the whole notation: a star for a key, a plus for a foreign key, nothing for everything else. This example is a reference sheet for them.

#What this example shows

  • Every marker, side by side.

  • An entity with a composite key.

  • How the markers render in the output.

#A worked example

Open it, edit it, or copy the source below.

Attribute styling (ERD)

The source, which you can paste into a new diagram and edit:

[Invoice]
*id
+customer_id
number
issued_on
due_on
total

[InvoiceLine]
*invoice_id
*line_no
description
quantity
unit_price

[Customer]
*id
name
vat_number

Invoice *--1 Customer
InvoiceLine *--1 Invoice

#Making it your own

  • Two starred attributes make a composite key.

  • A plus marks a foreign key; it can also be starred if it is part of the primary key.

  • Unmarked attributes are plain columns.

Four symbols, and that is the language.