Difference between @OneToMany and @ElementCollection?

Question

What is the difference between using a @OneToMany and @ElementCollection annotation since both work on the one-to-many relationship?

Answer 1

Basic or Embedded: @ElementCollection
Entities: @OneToMany or @ManyToMany

@ElementCollection:

• the relation is managed (only) by the entity in which the relation is defined
• table contains id reference to the owning entity plus basic or embedded attributes

@OneToMany / @ManyToMany:

• can also be managed by the other entity
• join table or column(s) typically contains id references only