Star Schema (Ralph Kimbal) #
Introduction #
The Star Schema is a traditional database schema with a central table known as the fact table surrounded by dimension tables, which form a star-like shape. This schema is optimized for querying large data sets and is commonly used in business intelligence and reporting applications.
Characteristics: #
- Simplicity: Easy to understand and navigate, with clear relationships between the central fact table (which contains measurable, quantitative data) and dimension tables (which describe attributes related to the data).
- Performance: Efficient for read queries due to the denormalized structure, which reduces the number of joins necessary when performing queries.
- Query Optimization: Ideal for OLAP systems where query speed is crucial, as it allows for fast aggregation and summarization.
Learning Resources #
Books #
Courses #
- What is STAR schema | Star vs Snowflake Schema | Fact vs Dimension Table
- Data Modeling Tutorial: Star Schema (aka Kimball Approach)
- Data Warehouse - Star Schema
- Basic Star Schema design