Learn about the conceptual differences between an entity and a DTO by example in Java.

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Entities and DTOs have different roles and characteristics. Entities represent real-world objects or concepts within the domain and often correspond directly to database tables. They incorporate ORM annotations, establish relationships with other entities, and can contain business logic. On the other hand, DTOs act as data carriers without any business logic. They are used for data transfer between applications or parts of the same application. DTOs are often made immutable, include validation annotations, and use JSON mapping annotations.

Differences Between Entities and DTOs

5. Why Do We Need Both Entities and DTOs?