Entity

Kind: pattern

Layer: Domain Modeling

Record: architecture:entity

Severity: contextual

Scope: domain, identity, lifecycle

Canonical: Ontology

A design pattern that models a domain object by a stable identity, which stays the same while its attributes change.

Listed in Architecture principles, after Value Object and before Domain Service.

Requires

• Stable Identity

Reinforces

• Domain Model
• Encapsulation

Enables

• Identity-Based Equality
• Lifecycle Tracking

Conflicts with

• Anemic Domain Model

In tension with

• Value Object

Tensions

• Entity / Value Object

Violated by

• Attribute-Compared Identity

Severity

• contextual

Category

• Domain Architecture

Refactors

• Normalization

Linked from

• Anti-patterns
• Domain Architecture
• Core Modular Design
• Schema / Canonical Data / Semantics
• Domain Architecture
• Severity levels
• The resolutions