The Logical Data Structure with a One-to-Many Relationship


In the field of data management, a logical data structure refers to the way data is organized and represented within a system or database. It helps to define the relationships between different entities and how they are connected to each other. One such relationship is a one-to-many relationship, where one entity is associated with multiple instances of another entity.


In a one-to-many relationship, a single instance of an entity is associated with multiple instances of another entity. This means that for every occurrence of the first entity, there can be multiple occurrences of the second entity. For example, in a database of customers and orders, each customer can have multiple orders associated with them.


Now, let's consider the given options and determine which one represents a logical data structure with a one-to-many relationship:

a) Network: A network data structure represents relationships between entities using pointers or links. While it can handle one-to-many relationships, it is more suitable for many-to-many relationships. In a network structure, entities are connected through nodes and links, allowing for complex interconnections.

b) Tree: A tree data structure represents hierarchical relationships between entities. It consists of nodes connected by edges, with a single root node at the top. Each node can have zero or more child nodes. This structure is well-suited for one-to-many relationships, as each parent node can have multiple child nodes.

c) Chain: A chain data structure represents a linear sequence of entities, where each entity points to the next one. It is not suitable for one-to-many relationships, as it only allows for a one-to-one relationship between adjacent entities.

d) Relational: A relational database structure organizes data into tables, with each table representing an entity and its attributes. Relationships between entities are established through foreign keys. While a relational structure can handle one-to-many relationships, it is not inherently based on this relationship type.


Based on the given options, the logical data structure that best represents a one-to-many relationship is the tree structure. This structure allows for hierarchical relationships between entities, with a single parent entity having multiple child entities. Other options such as network, chain, and relational structures may not be as suitable or optimized for representing and managing one-to-many relationships.