Is EAV the Right Approach for Modeling Product Variants and Avoiding Data Duplication?

Modeling Product Variants

This discussion revolves around the modeling of product variants and the possibility of using EAV (Entity-Attribute-Value) for this purpose. The participant expresses concerns about the potential for data duplication and normalization issues.

The provided example showcases a data structure where products can have multiple variants, each with its own set of options. SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) are then defined as combinations of variant options.

The discussion includes several updates and questions from the participant, along with responses addressing these concerns and suggestions for alternative designs.

Alternative Design (Without EAV)

One of the alternative designs proposed involves using normalized tables for products, options, option values, and SKU values, with primary and foreign keys to maintain data integrity and prevent data duplication. This design allows for a more structured and normalized data representation.

Normalization Issues

The participant expresses concerns about potential normalization issues in the design. The response emphasizes the importance of using primary, unique, and foreign keys to enforce data integrity and prevent data duplication. The use of a composite key for product_variants and product_variant_options is suggested to prevent redundant data entries.

Scalability and Performance

No specific concerns or discussions regarding scalability and performance are mentioned in the provided context.

Conclusion

The provided discussion focuses on the modeling of product variants, with a focus on data normalization and avoiding data duplication. It includes an example design, updates, and alternative design suggestions. However, the context does not delve into specific scalability or performance considerations for the proposed designs.

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