Link attributes versus relationship attributes
You can use links and relationships between catalogs and items.
The following table describes the different performance characteristics
for both links and relationship attributes.
| Links attributes | Relationship attributes |
|---|---|
| Link attributes are used in item objects only. | Relationship attributes can be used in both item and category objects. |
| Link attributes are associated through the primary key of the target item. | Relationship attributes are associated through the internal id of the target item. |
| Link attributes can be associated to an item that does not exist yet. | Relationship attributes cannot be associated to an item that does not exist yet in target catalog. |
| Link attributes targets a catalog that is identified at design time (in catalog attributes). | Relationship attributes targets a catalog that is chosen at run time. |
| Link attributes are limited to the primary spec, | Relationship attributes can be used in primary and secondary specs. |