How does the application store subtypes in the database?

The correct approach for storing subtypes in the database involves creating one table per subtype hierarchy while utilizing a typelist for identifying the entity type. This method effectively organizes related data and maintains a clear structure reflecting the relationships and characteristics of different subtypes.

By employing a separate table for each subtype, the application can efficiently manage distinct attributes and behaviors associated with each subtype. This leads to a well-normalized database schema where each table can define its unique fields, constraints, and relationships without ambiguity. The typelist serves as a reference point that helps in identifying and managing these subtypes, streamlining data access and manipulation.

This structure is advantageous in terms of data integrity, as each subtype can evolve independently while still adhering to a common framework defined by the hierarchy. Furthermore, this allows for optimized queries based on specific subtype needs and supports more complex inheritance and polymorphic behaviors typically seen in object-oriented programming paradigms.

The options that suggest storing subtypes in a single table or creating separate databases are less efficient and may lead to complications when managing data integrity, query performance, and schema evolution. These approaches might also restrict the flexibility often required in applications dealing with multiple subtypes and their specific requirements.