Domain Model

A Domain Model is a high-level model that helps create structured representations (that support domain understanding and problem solving tasks).

• AKA: Problem Domain Model, Domain Knowledge Model, Domain-Specific Model.
• Context:
  • It can typically capture Domain Knowledge through concept organization.
  • It can typically represent Domain Entity through attribute definition.
  • It can typically define Domain Relationship through entity interaction.
  • It can typically enforce Domain Constraint through integrity rules.
  • It can typically guide Domain Analysis through conceptual framework.
  • It can often support System Development through model-driven engineering.
  • It can often facilitate Knowledge Transfer through domain documentation.
  • It can often enable Domain Reasoning through logical structure.
  • It can often improve Stakeholder Communication through shared understanding.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Simple Domain Model to being a Complex Domain Model, depending on its domain complexity.
  • It can range from being an Informal Domain Model to being a Formal Domain Model, depending on its formalization level.
  • It can range from being a Static Domain Model to being a Dynamic Domain Model, depending on its behavioral scope.
  • ...
  • It can be produced by a Domain Modeling Task with domain analysis capability.
  • It can have Validation Methods through domain expert review.
  • It can have Evolution Processes through domain knowledge updates.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Software Domain Models, such as:
    • Enterprise Models, such as:
      • Business Process Model for workflow representation.
      • Organization Domain Model for business structure.
    • System Models, such as:
      • Entity-Relationship Model for data structure.
      • Object-Oriented Model for system design.
  • Knowledge Domain Models, such as:
    • Domain-specific Ontologys for knowledge representation.
    • Domain-specific Knowledge Graphs for information organization.
  • Specialized Domain Models, such as:
    • Legal Contract Domain Model for contract analysis.
    • Financial Domain Model for financial systems.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Common Sense Models, which lack domain specificity.
  • General Purpose Models, which are not domain specific.
  • Implementation Models, which are too low level.
  • Abstract Models, which lack domain context.
• See: Conceptual Model, Model-based Software Engineering, Domain Knowledge, Domain Analysis, Problem Domain.

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References

2023

• (Wikipedia, 2023) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_model Retrieved:2023-8-16.
  • In software engineering, a domain model is a conceptual model of the domain that incorporates both behavior and data. In ontology engineering, a domain model is a formal representation of a knowledge domain with concepts, roles, datatypes, individuals, and rules, typically grounded in a description logic.

2011

• http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Domain_model&action=edit
  • A domain model in problem solving and software engineering can be thought of as a conceptual model of a domain of interest (often referred to as a problem domain) which describes the various entities, their attributes and relationships, plus the constraints that govern the integrity of the model elements comprising that problem domain.

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