Object–Relational Mapping

In the world of database programming, there is often a need to bridge the gap between an object-oriented program and a relational database. This is where ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) comes in. ORM is a technology that transforms objects in your program into database records and vice versa. It greatly simplifies interactions with databases, making them more intuitive for developers who are used to working with objects instead of raw SQL code.

Advantages of ORM

• Minimizes SQL complexity by allowing developers to work with objects and methods instead of writing raw SQL queries;
• Improves maintainability by streamlining updates and scaling efforts for applications;
• Supports multiple databases, ensuring compatibility across systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite without code changes;
• Boosts security with built-in safeguards against SQL injection vulnerabilities.

SQLAlchemy as an ORM

One of the most popular ORM tools for Python is SQLAlchemy. This library is a powerful tool for database management, as it supports both object-relational mapping (ORM) and low-level database operations using raw SQL.

SQLAlchemy allows you to define database tables as Python classes, where the class attributes correspond to table columns. This makes it possible to interact with the database using intuitive methods and function calls.

Using an ORM like SQLAlchemy significantly simplifies database operations, making them more understandable and safer for developers. With the power of SQLAlchemy, you can build scalable applications with minimal effort, focusing on your program's logic instead of database interaction details.