No, the Repository Pattern and the Active Record Pattern are not the same; they are distinct design patterns used in software development for handling data access but with different approaches and principles.
The Active Record Pattern involves an object that encapsulates both the data access and the domain logic. This pattern wraps a row in a database table or view, directly linking the database access with the object's properties. It is characterized by the fact that each entity object is responsible for its own CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations. This can lead to a mixing of business logic and data access code, which can make the system harder to maintain as it grows in complexity[2].
On the other hand, the Repository Pattern provides a separation between the domain and data mapping layers, using a collection-like interface for accessing domain objects. In this pattern, all data access logic is concentrated in a separate repository class, which handles the persistence operations. The repository acts as a mediator between the data source layer and the business layers of the application, providing a more abstract interface to query and manipulate the data. T...
