How are data models defined in OutSystems?

In OutSystems, data models are defined primarily through the use of entities and attributes within the data layer. Entities represent the core data structures in an application, akin to tables in a traditional database, and they allow developers to define the essential data that the application will manage. Each entity can have various attributes that represent the different fields or properties of that entity, similar to the columns in database tables.

This approach is crucial because it leverages the OutSystems platform's capabilities for managing data and relationships effectively, enabling developers to design their applications in a way that ensures consistency and integrity of the data. The visual interface provided by OutSystems makes it easy to establish these entities and attributes, fostering a faster application development process.

In contrast, defining data models using interfaces and procedures does not encapsulate the structure and relationships of the data itself, as interfaces are more about defining behaviors and procedures are about executing logic rather than organizing data. Similarly, using templates and scripts or classes and objects does not align with the OutSystems way of managing data, as templates and scripts pertain more to UI design and automation rather than data structuring, while classes and objects relate to object-oriented programming rather than the specific entity-attribute model used in OutSystems.