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Basic Principles of Object-Relational Mapping in PHP Frameworks Using Object-Oriented Programming

M66 2025-07-29

Basic Principles of Object-Relational Mapping in PHP Frameworks Using Object-Oriented Programming

What is Object-Relational Mapping (ORM)?

Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) is a technology used to bridge the gap between object-oriented languages (like PHP) and relational databases (like MySQL). It allows data in the database to be handled in an object-oriented format, simplifying and accelerating data operations.

Basic Principles of ORM in PHP Frameworks

Domain Model

ORM uses domain models to represent the data in a database. A domain model is typically a hierarchy of objects, where each object represents an entity or table in the database.

Persistence Mechanism

ORM provides a persistence mechanism, allowing objects to be stored in the database. When the state of an object changes, ORM automatically synchronizes the changes with the database.

Query Methods

ORM offers a query method that is conceptually similar to traditional SQL queries. However, ORM queries use terms from the object model instead of SQL syntax.

Mapping

ORM is responsible for mapping the object model to the relational database model, defining how object properties map to database tables, columns, and relationships.

Practical Example: Using Eloquent ORM in Laravel

Define Domain Model


class User {
    // ...
}

CRUD Operations


// Create a user
$user = new User;
$user->name = 'John Doe';
$user->save();

// Read a user
$user = User::find(1);

// Update a user
$user->name = 'Jane Doe';
$user->save();

// Delete a user
$user->delete();

Model Relationships

ORM also supports relationships between models. For example:


class User {
    public function posts() {
        return $this->hasMany(Post::class);
    }
}

class Post {
    public function user() {
        return $this->belongsTo(User::class);
    }
}

Conclusion

In conclusion, this article has covered the basic principles and practical applications of Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) in PHP frameworks. By using ORM, developers can easily implement object-to-database mapping, simplifying data operations and enhancing development efficiency.