This illustration shows the OracleAS TopLink metadata model, and illustrates the relationship between objects and classes, the descriptor, and the database.

Class_X represents Table_X in the database. Object_X1 and Object_X2 are instances of Class_X. As these are converge, they become the OracleAS TopLink Descriptor which in turns feeds into Database Table_X. Individual rows in Database Table_X represent Object_X1 and Object_X2, as well as any other instances of Class_X.

The relationship among the database, the objects and classes, and the descriptor makes up the OracleAS TopLink metadata model