Which level of the data model describes how data is physically stored in the database?

The physical data model is the level of the data model that specifically describes how data is physically stored in a database. This model provides details about the physical storage of data, including the file organization, indexing methods, data compression, and the structures used to store data on the physical media. It takes into account the specific database technology being used and outlines how the data can be accessed and managed at a low level, focusing on efficiency and performance.

In contrast, the conceptual data model focuses on the high-level structure of the data, including the entities, their attributes, and relationships, without delving into technical details of how the data will be stored. The logical data model goes further into the organization of the data and the relationships that exist in a more detailed way, but still does not consider the physical storage specifics. Data manipulation language, on the other hand, refers to the language used to access and manipulate data within the database and is not a model of data storage itself. Thus, the physical data model is essential for understanding the storage mechanism within a database system.