Naming N:N connectivity tables

Question

We have 2 object types and want to connect them N:N. For example, articles & authors.

1. How would you name relations table?
2. What would you put first at table name, articles or authors? (articles2authors or books2authors)

Someone would, probably, recognize this question as stupid. I don't think so because I'm looking for ideal naming convention.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Choose any

• Junction Table
• Cross-Reference Table
• Bridge Table
• Join Table
• Map Table
• Link Table

, but please do not use '2' to replace 'to', which is so 1970.

I personally prefer Junction: AuthorsArticlesJunction, AuthorsBooksJunction. I put Authors first because without an author neither article, nor book would not exist. This is somewhat metaphysical, but works for me.

Answer 2

1) article_has_author (just my "privat" convention)m or ArticleAuthor 2) in n:m relations it normaly doesnt matter.

Answer 3

I prefer map - so something like AUTHOR_ARTICLE_MAP, when used consistently, explains how the table is used.

Answer 4

I'd use AuthorArticle. Generally the 'primary' object should go first (if one can be determined), but the ordering is not a big deal.

Answer 5

Depends on the logical relations , for example:

• Article_Author
• Links , UserRoles -> LinksForUserRoles / Links_For_UserRoles
• User , Role - > UserRole