Difference between one-to-many and many-to-one relationship

Solution 1:

Yes, it a vice versa. It depends on which side of the relationship the entity is present on.

For example, if one department can employ for several employees then, department to employee is a one to many relationship (1 department employs many employees), while employee to department relationship is many to one (many employees work in one department).

More info on the relationship types:

Database Relationships - IBM DB2 documentation

Solution 2:

From this page about Database Terminology

Most relations between tables are one-to-many.

Example:

• One area can be the habitat of many readers.
• One reader can have many subscriptions.
• One newspaper can have many subscriptions.

A Many to One relation is the same as one-to-many, but from a different viewpoint.

• Many readers live in one area.
• Many subscriptions can be of one and the same reader.
• Many subscriptions are for one and the same newspaper.