Kimball Dimensional Data Modeling

When to Use

Use this skill when:

• Designing a new data warehouse or data mart schema
• Choosing between fact table types (transaction / periodic snapshot / accumulating snapshot)
• Designing dimension tables and choosing an SCD strategy
• Writing DDL for fact and dimension tables in a lakehouse or DWH
• Implementing DML load patterns: initial load, incremental append, SCD1/2/3 updates
• Deciding on surrogate key strategy, grain, or measure type
• Implementing specific dimension patterns: date dim, conformed dims, role-playing, junk, bridge
• Reviewing or refactoring an existing dimensional model

Core Principles

Kimball dimensional modeling organizes data around business processes. Every model answers one question: what business event or state does this table describe?