Top 8 Database Schema Design Tools

Database modeling is the first and most crucial step in creating a database. Read on to find out about our favorite database diagramming tools.

In this article, we’ll talk about database modeling and why you need data modeling in the first place. Then we’ll introduce several database modeling tools that facilitate database schema design, including:

• Online database modeling tools:
  • Vertabelo
  • SqlDBM
  • DbDio
  • SqlDBD
• Standalone applications for database modeling:
  • Navicat
  • ERBuilder
  • SQL Developer Data Modeler
  • MySQL Workbench

The database design process is more than just creating an entity-relationship diagram, or ERD. It requires collaboration between teams. It also must fit into the system development lifecycle so that we can build a reusable design that speeds up the development process.

Let’s get started.

What Are Database Modeling and Database Modelers?

Database modeling is the process of creating a blueprint for your database. Before implementing any database or software, it is vital to have a plan. Database modeling tools let us draw the plan efficiently so we can avoid issues during the implementation phase. It also makes future improvements or changes to the database easier.

There are various database modeler features that help accomplish the database design process successfully and efficiently. Here is what to look for in a database design tool:

• It facilitates the efficient drawing of an ER diagram, including the relationships between tables.
• It actively validates the database model.
• It generates SQL DDL (data definition language) code to ease the creation of a physical database.
• It supports the relevant database engine(s).
• It provides a way to import an existing database (i.e. reverse engineering).
• It offers various collaboration options so team members can contribute simultaneously.

An Overview of the Database Design Process

The database modeling process starts with planning for business rules while still keeping enough space for future improvements or changes to the database. Business rules are mainly concerned with what entities are required and how they relate to one another.

There are three main stages of database modeling:

• The conceptual model includes a general overview of the entities.
• The logical model includes details about the entities and the relationships between them.
• The physical model includes tables, columns, and relationships between them that are specific to your target database. Its concerns are mainly hardware-related, such as CPU and memory usage.

Here is an article that explains more about conceptual, logical, and physical data models.

During database modeling, it is essential to consider database normalization rules. Adhering to these rules helps us reduce data redundancy and improve data integrity. Implementing normalization takes place at the data level – i.e. in column structure and table relationships.

Database design is an art: you experience the creation process of a database that starts from an idea. You can read more about what we like in database modeling here.

Benefits of Database Modeling

Now, let’s briefly list the benefits of database modeling:

• The database model is a framework that provides focus points during the application development process.
• A good data model ensures fewer errors and improves the quality of the data stored in it, reducing software development time for data-driven applications.
• A database model provides database documentation. Plus, it’s ready before the implementation phase, so everyone knows what to achieve and how to do it.
• A well-designed database can improve system performance and result in reduced system costs.
• A good data model supports data governance, business intelligence, and application requirements.

Now that we’ve covered all the background, it’s time to look at the different database modeling tools available.

Online Database Modeling Tools

It’s convenient not to need to download and install anything but still use a database modeling tool. So let’s start with online database modeling tools.

Vertabelo

Vertabelo is an online data modeling tool that facilitates database diagram creation.

Its features include:

• Drawing ER diagrams
  Vertabelo provides a clean and responsive UI that lets you create tables, relationships, views, notes, subject areas, and more.
• Supported data models
  You can create conceptual, logical, and physical data models.
• Model validation
  Vertabelo validates your model as you design it, so you catch errors before they cause any
• SQL DDL generation
  Vertabelo generates an SQL DDL code based on your physical model with just one click; you can run this code to create your database. You can also import DDL files for reverse engineering. Here is more on Vertabelo’s SQL DDL generation features.
• Supported database engines
  Vertabelo supports the following database engines: PostgreSQL, IBM DB2, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, HSQLDB, SQLite, Amazon Redshift, Google BigQuery, and Snowflake.
• Reverse engineering
  Vertabelo supports reverse engineering by allowing you to import an existing database. Here is more on Vertabelo’s reverse engineering features.
• Collaboration options
  You can share the model with your colleagues and multiple designers can work on it simultaneously. Find out how to collaborate in Vertabelo effectively.

SqlDBM

SqlDBM is an online data modeling tool that facilitates database diagram creation.

Let’s go through SqlDBM’s features:

• Drawing ER diagrams
  It provides an easy-to-use interface that lets you create tables, relationships, subject areas, and more.
• SQL DDL generation
  SqlDBM supports SQL DDL generation, also known as forward engineering. Forward engineering is generating an SQL DDL code, while reverse engineering is importing the DDL code of an existing database.
• Supported database engines
  SqlDBM supports the following database engines: Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Snowflake, Amazon Redshift, PostgreSQL, and Azure Synapse Analytics. Furthermore, it provides an option for you to request support for the database engine of your choice.
• Reverse engineering
  SqlDBM supports reverse engineering by allowing you to import an existing database.
• Collaboration options
  You can share the model with your colleagues. There are various features, such as commenting and team management, that make collaboration easier.

DbDiagram.io

DbDiagram.io is an online data modeling tool that facilitates database diagram creation.

Its features include:

• Drawing ER diagrams
  Here you draw your ER diagram by writing code.
• Model validation
  DbDiagram provides validation features for the code you write to create your ER diagrams.
• SQL DDL generation
  There’s SQL DDL generation support.
• Supported database engines
  DbDiagram supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Microsoft SQL Server.
• Reverse engineering
  It allows the import of an existing database in the form of an SQL dump file.
• Collaboration options
  You can share your database diagrams with your colleagues using one click.
• Integration with popular web frameworks
  If you use web frameworks like Rails or Django, you can upload the rb or models.py files for reverse engineering.

SqlDBD

SqlDBD is an online data modeling tool that facilitates database diagram creation.

Let’s go through the features of SqlDBD:

• Drawing ER diagrams
  This program provides a clean UI that helps you create your ER diagrams.
• SQL DDL generation
  SqlDBD supports SQL DDL generation for database table creation.
• Supported database engines
  It supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Microsoft SQL Server.
• Reverse engineering
  It allows the import of an existing database in the form of a database SQL script.
• Collaboration options
  You can share the model with your colleagues.

There are other useful online database tools. We recommend you look at them and find the one that works best for your needs and budget.

Standalone Database Modeling Applications

There are many database modeling tools available as standalone (offline) applications. Let’s have a look at some of them.

Navicat

Navicat is a database client that facilitates database diagram creation.

Let’s go through its features:

• Drawing ER diagrams
  It provides a user-friendly interface to create your ER diagrams.
• Supported data models
  You can create conceptual, logical, and physical data models.
• SQL DDL generation
  Navicat supports SQL DDL generation for database table creation.
• Supported database engines
  Navicat supports the following database engines: MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQLite, Microsoft SQL Server, and MariaDB.
• Reverse engineering
  It supports reverse engineering by connecting to an existing The database connection details must be provided by the user.

ERBuilder

The ERBuilder Data Modeler provides a complete data modeling solution for data modelers and data architects.

Let’s go through the features:

• Drawing ER diagrams
  ERBuilder provides intuitive data modeling via its rich visual UI.
• Model validation
  It provides several model validation options, such as the checking control feature, querying the test data to check the validity of the model, and generating web user interfaces for models.
• SQL DDL generation
  It supports forward engineering by allowing the export of ER diagrams as an SQL DDL code.
• Supported database engines
  ERBuilder supports the following database engines: Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Firebird, Microsoft Azure SQL Database, Amazon Redshift, and Amazon RDS.
• Reverse engineering
  It supports reverse engineering by connecting to an existing The database connection details must be provided by the user.
• Collaborations options
  ERBuilder provides a Git version control feature that facilitates collaboration with your team.

SQL Developer Data Modeler

SQL Developer Data Modeler is an Oracle database modeling tool.

Let’s go through the features of SQL Developer Data Modeler:

• Drawing ER diagrams
  It provides a responsive UI for ER diagram creation.
• Supported data models
  It supports various data models, such as logical, multi-dimensional, and relational.
• Model validation
  It provides model validation and logging in the console below the diagram.
• SQL DDL generation
  SQL Developer Data Modeler supports ERD export as DDL, CSV, and other file types.
• Supported database engines
  It supports the Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and IBM DB2 database engines.
• Reverse engineering
  It supports reverse engineering by importing database files (such as DDL, VAR, and more).

MySQL Workbench

MySQL Workbench is the MySQL database client. It also facilitates database diagram creation.

Let’s go through the features of MySQL Workbench:

• Drawing ER diagrams
  It provides a responsive UI for ER diagram creation.
• SQL DDL generation
  It supports forward engineering by allowing the export of ER diagrams as SQL DDL code.
• Supported database engine
  MySQL Workbench exclusively supports the MySQL database engine.
• Reverse engineering
  It allows the import of MySQL database creation scripts.

Time to Model Your Own Database!

Now you know how crucial database modeling is for further implementation phases. Go ahead – choose your favorite database modeler, and design your database! Have fun!