How do domain models differ from data models?

Domain models serve as high-level representations that outline the major entities within a specific domain and illustrate how these entities relate to each other through various roles and relationships. They focus on the concept rather than the implementation, which allows stakeholders to understand the essential components and rules of the business context. This abstraction is crucial for grasping the domain's requirements before any physical data structures are created.

In contrast, data models often delve into the specifics of how data is stored and accessed in databases, emphasizing structures like tables, columns, and relationships in technical terms. They are more aligned with the implementation of systems rather than the overall understanding of the relationships and constraints among various entities, which is what domain models excel in.

By distinguishing between these two, one can appreciate the role of domain models in facilitating communication among stakeholders and aligning technical and business perspectives while data models focus on the practicalities of data management and storage.