A hierarchical database model is a data model in which the data is organized

into a tree-like structure. The data is stored as records which are connected
to one another through links. A record is a collection of felds, with each feld
containing only one value. The entity type of a record defnes which felds the
record contains.
Eample of a hierarchical model
A record in the hierarchical database model corresponds to a row !or tuple" in
the relational database model and an entity type corresponds to a table !or
relation".
The hierarchical database model mandates that each child record has only
one parent, whereas each parent record can have one or more child records.
#n order to retrieve data from a hierarchical database the whole tree needs to
be traversed starting from the root node. This model is recognized as the frst
database model created by #$% in the &'()s*citation needed+.,istory*edit+
The hierarchical structure was used in early mainframe -$%.. /ecords0
relationships form a treelike model. This structure is simple but in1eible
because the relationship is confned to a one-to-many relationship. The #$%
#nformation %anagement .ystem !#%." and the /-% %obile are eamples of
a hierarchical database system with multiple hierarchies over the same data.
/-% %obile is a newly designed embedded database for a mobile computer
system.*citation needed+
The hierarchical data model lost traction as 2odd0s relational model became
the de facto standard used by virtually all mainstream database management
systems. A relational-database implementation of a hierarchical model was
frst discussed in published form in &''3*&+ !see also nested set model".
,ierarchical data organization schemes resurfaced with the advent of 4%5 in
the late &'')s*3+ !see also 4%5 database". The hierarchical structure is used
primarily today for storing geographic information and fle systems.*citation
needed+
2urrently hierarchical databases are still widely used especially in
applications that re6uire very high performance and availability such as
banking and telecommunications. 7ne of the most widely used commercial
hierarchical databases is #%..*8+ Another eample of the use of hierarchical
databases is 9indows /egistry in the %icrosoft 9indows operating systems.
Eamples of hierarchical data represented as relational tables*edit+
An organization could store employee information in a table that contains
attributes:columns such as employee number, frst name, last name, and
-epartment number. The organization provides each employee with
computer hardware as needed, but computer e6uipment may only be used
by the employee to which it is assigned. The organization could store the
computer hardware information in a separate table that includes each part0s
serial number, type, and the employee that uses it. The tables might look like
this;
Emp<o =irst <ame 5ast <ame -ept. <um
&)) .ally $aker &)-5
&)& >ack -ouglas &)-5
&)3 .arah .chultz 3)-$
&)8 -avid -rachmeier 3)-$
.erial <um Type ?ser Emp<o
8))'@8A-A 2omputer &))
8-38-3B8@A3%onitor &))
3-33-@38A38%onitor &))
3838A3 Crinter &))
#n this model, the employee data table represents the DparentD part of the
hierarchy, while the computer table represents the DchildD part of the
hierarchy. #n contrast to tree structures usually found in computer software
algorithms, in this model the children point to the parents. As shown, each
employee may possess several pieces of computer e6uipment, but each
individual piece of computer e6uipment may have only one employee owner.
2onsider the following structure;
Emp<o -esignation /eportsTo
&) -irector
3) .enior %anager &)
8) Typist 3)
A) Crogrammer 3)
#n this, the DchildD is the same type as the DparentD. The hierarchy stating
Emp<o &) is boss of 3), and 8) and A) each report to 3) is represented by
the D/eportsToD column. #n /elational database terms, the /eportsTo column
is a foreign key referencing the Emp<o column. #f the DchildD data type were
diEerent, it would be in a diEerent table, but there would still be a foreign key
referencing the Emp<o column of the employees table.
This simple model is commonly known as the adFacency list model, and was
introduced by -r. Edgar =. 2odd after initial criticisms surfaced that the
relational model could not model hierarchical data.
The 9indows /egistry is a hierarchical database that stores confguration
settings and options on %icrosoft 9indows operating systems.