Which item in an entity-relationship (ER) diagram follows the attribute name and is placed outside of parentheses?

In an entity-relationship (ER) diagram, attributes are essential elements that describe the characteristics of entities. When representing these attributes, certain notations help clarify their properties. The correct answer indicates that the maximum cardinality, which defines the maximum number of instances of one entity that can be associated with a single instance of another entity, follows the attribute name and is placed outside parentheses. This notation helps in clearly representing how many entities can participate in a relationship, providing crucial information for database design and ensuring the relationships between entities are accurately modeled.

Other options do not specifically relate to this notation of attributes within an ER diagram. A weak entity, for instance, refers to an entity that cannot be uniquely identified by its attributes alone and typically requires a relationship with a strong entity. The terms "attribute minimum" might refer to the minimum cardinality, but it does not follow the naming convention specified in the question. Physical design pertains to the implementation of the database, which is outside the scope of ER diagram notations. Hence, understanding the role of maximum cardinality in ER diagrams is key for correct entity representation and overall database structure design.