The Extended Reference pattern is a schema design approach that optimizes data access by reducing repetitive JOIN operations, particularly in scenarios involving multiple entities with frequent data retrieval needs. This pattern is beneficial in cases where separate logical entities, such as customers and orders in an e-commerce application, exist but require frequent data consolidation, which can affect performance. By embedding only frequently accessed fields, like customer names and addresses, into the main document, the pattern achieves faster reads while minimizing unnecessary data duplication. However, it necessitates careful consideration of which data to duplicate, ensuring that only stable and essential information is included, thereby maintaining data integrity and historical accuracy. This method is particularly advantageous in order management applications, where reducing JOIN operations significantly enhances performance, though developers must remain mindful of the potential for data redundancy.