An entity-relationship diagram (ERD) models relational data using entities, attributes, and relationships. ERDs provide a graphical representation of data that helps design relational database schemas. The relational model then structures the data from the ERD into tables, rows, and columns to enable storage, queries, and updates of the data. Properly normalizing the data into multiple tables avoids data anomalies that can arise from redundancy in a flat file structure. Together, ERDs and the relational model provide an effective way to conceptualize, design, and manage structured data in a database.