Hi:

What is the difference between Unidirectional and Bidirectional associations?

Since the table generated in the db are all the same,so the only difference I found is that each side of the bidiretional assocations will have a refer to the other,and the unidirectional not.

/////////// This is a Unidirectional association
public class User {
    private int     id;
    private String  name;
    @ManyToOne
    @JoinColumn(
            name = "groupId")
    private Group   group;
}

public class Group {
    private int     id;
    private String  name;
}

////////////// The Bidirectional association

public class User {
    private int     id;
    private String  name;
    @ManyToOne
    @JoinColumn(
            name = "groupId")
    private Group   group;
}
public class Group {
    private int         id;
    private String      name;
    @OneToMany(mappedBy="group")
    private List<User>  users;
}

The difference is wheather the group hold a refer of the user.

So I wonder if this is the only difference? which is recommended?