What is another term for an association in Mendix?

In Mendix, the term "reference" is used to describe an association between two entities within the data model. Associations allow developers to define relationships between different entities, enabling them to navigate between related objects easily. This concept is central to how data is structured in Mendix applications, as it establishes important connections that reflect real-world relationships among data entities.

When defining a reference, it is crucial because it not only indicates the relationship type but also determines how data integrity is maintained. For instance, when you delete or modify an entity that has references pointing to it, the system can enforce rules about how those changes propagate to associated entities. This ensures that the data remains consistent throughout the application.

In contrast, while terms like connection, link, and relation may express a similar idea about relationships between entities, they do not carry the same specific meaning that "reference" does in the context of Mendix's data modeling. Therefore, understanding the proper terminology is vital for effectively designing and managing data structures within Mendix applications.