The elements of a data warehouse are the core components or building blocks that facilitate the storage, management, and analysis of large datasets. Here are the key elements:
Definition: The raw data that comes from various operational systems, external sources, or databases. It can include structured, semi-structured, or unstructured data.
Definition: The processes used to extract data from source systems, transform it into a format suitable for analysis, and load it into the data warehouse.
Definition: A temporary storage area where raw data is cleansed and transformed before being loaded into the data warehouse.
Definition: The central repository where processed and organized data is stored. This includes:
Fact Tables: Contain measurable data (e.g., sales, revenue).
Dimension Tables: Provide context to the facts (e.g., product, time, location).
Definition: Data about data, providing information about the structure, source, and management of the data warehouse (e.g., schema definitions, data lineage).
Definition: Tools used for querying and analyzing data in the warehouse, enabling multidimensional analysis (e.g., slicing and dicing data).
Definition: Subsets of the data warehouse tailored to specific business lines or departments for focused analysis.
Definition: Interfaces that allow users to generate reports, visualize data, and perform ad hoc queries.