A physical data model (PDM) represents a detailed technical solution, often using the logical data model as a starting point and then adapted to work within a set of hardware, software, and network tools. Physical data models are built for a particular technology. Relational DBMSs, for example, should be designed with the specific capabilities of a database management system in mind (e.g., IBM DB2, UDB, Oracle, Teradata, Sybase, Microsoft SQL Server, or Microsoft Access).

This figure illustrates a relational physical data model. In this data model, School has been denormalized into the Student entity to accommodate a particular technology. Perhaps whenever a Student is accessed, their school information is as well and therefore storing school information with Student is a more performant structure than having two separate structures.