Cracking the code of database storage: This paper presents a groundbreaking model for understanding and optimizing database performance by explicitly mapping conceptual to internal structures, a crucial aspect often overlooked in DBMS implementations. Previously, modeling DBMS storage structures was challenging due to the unrecognized fundamental role of these mappings. The transformation model introduced in this paper exposes these mappings, enabling precise and systematic modeling of storage architectures in various commercial DBMSs. Examples of INQUIRE, ADABAS, and SYSTEM 2000 storage architectures illustrate the model's utility. Bridging the gap between physical database theory and practice, the transformation model unveils the potential for automating the development of physical database software. Its clear, systematic approach offers a valuable tool for both researchers and practitioners seeking to enhance database performance and design.