A DesignPattern used in RelationalDatabases to handle semi-hierarchal designs. For example, consider implementing a WebLog. We may have an "Entry" table with a ToOne relation to a "Topic" table: Entry <<-> Topic An entry could then be accessed like so: http://weblog.com/topic/entry However, often entries span multiple topics. The simple answer is to make the ToOne relation to a ToMany relation: Entry <<->> Topic. There, now the entry could be accesses via both http://weblog.com/topic/entry AND http://weblog.com/another_topic/entry Problem: the WebLog Entry now longer has a OneTruePath -- it's homeless! If we want to provide BreadCrumbs -style navigation, we're lost. A simple tweak solves this issue, have two relations between Entry and Topic: 1. the to-one ''primary'' relation: Entry <<---primary topic-> Topic 1. the to-many ''secondary'' relation: Entry <<---secondary topics->> Topic Thus, now we have the OneTruePath ease with the ToOne design, with the multiple-topics flexibility of the ToMany design.