Active Record - database-related design pattern

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Active Record pattern is the simplest of the database-related design patterns. The Active Record pattern embeds the knowledge of how to interact with the database directly into the class performing the interaction.

While Active Record leads to a high degree of coupling between application code and database structure, in relatively simple circumstances the issues inherent in coupling may be far easier to manage than adopting a more complex solution.

Active Record is also sufficient for many first-time database projects. Only if complications arise that cannot be easily addressed with the Active Record pattern should you refactor to a Table Data Gateway, a Data Mapper, or another database design pattern.