Object Relational Mapper (ORM) is the layer between
application and database which automates the SQL query generation. In
applications with ORM everything is an object. Application interacts with the
database as it is it is interacting with another object. Hence, erroneous
tasks like writing SQL queries can be avoided. The same valuable time can be
spent in much better tasks.
ORM also has its own limitations. The need of the hour is
to have a common standard that need be adopted by the all the ORM packages. The
performance related issues also need to be taken care of. Until or unless both
of these happen we cannot see the ORM implemented applications prosper.
There are varieties of ORM packages available in the market,
but choosing one of them would be a wise decision. The features of the package
should be thoroughly investigated. Based upon the same a decision has to be
taken. We have both commercial as well as free packages available.