Difference between Node/ Edge and View/Connection Properties

Hi @Kai Kang ,

Containers:

Containers act as the fundamental storage units for your data, much like tables in a SQL database. They hold raw data and form the base on which nodes, edges properties are built. Container can be used to populate properties on nodes and/or edges.

Nodes and Edges:

Nodes: Represent entities or objects in your data model, similar to records in a database table. It represents a real-world entity like a pump, sensor, pipeline segment, or any other relevant object in your industrial context. Think of it as a single record in a database table.

Edges and Direct relations represent relationships between nodes, establishing connections between different entities. (Direct relations are akin to foreign keys in a relational database)

Combining Containers with Nodes and Edges, CDF offers a strong framework for both data storage and defining complex relationships, catering to diverse data modeling and querying needs.

Instance: This is a broader term encompassing both nodes and edges. It essentially refers to any element within the knowledge graph.

Views and Connection Properties:

Views: Provide specific perspectives or interpretations of the data. They are virtual representations that focus on a subset of the data for particular use cases or analysis, similar to SQL views in a relational database.

Connection Properties: Define how different views relate and interact with each other, specifying how data in one view is connected to data in another.

In summary, Views and Connection Properties allow you to create tailored perspectives and interpretations of the data without altering the physical data itself. Nodes and Edges, on the other hand, serve as the building blocks for modeling complex relationships and networks within the data. While nodes and edges focus on the underlying structure and relationships, views and connection properties focus on presenting and interpreting that data effectively.

Let me know if this clarifies things!