Which data warehouse schema is designed such that multiple fact tables share…
2024
Which data warehouse schema is designed such that multiple fact tables share common dimension tables?
- A.
Star Schema
- B.
Snowflake Schema
- C.
Hierarchical Schema
- D.
Relational Schema
- E.
Fact Constellation Schema
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: E
Concept
In dimensional data-warehouse modelling, a schema is the layout of fact tables (measurable events, e.g. sales) and dimension tables (descriptive context, e.g. time, product, region). A schema in which several DISTINCT fact tables reuse the SAME shared (conformed) dimension tables is called a fact-constellation, or galaxy, schema — it is essentially multiple star schemas knit together through dimensions they hold in common.
Applying it here
The question asks for the schema where MULTIPLE fact tables share COMMON dimension tables. That defining property — many fact tables joined to one set of shared dimensions — is precisely the structure of the fact-constellation (galaxy) schema.
Contrasting the alternatives
Star schema: a SINGLE central fact table surrounded by denormalised dimension tables — one fact table, not many, so it does not capture sharing across multiple facts.
Snowflake schema: a star schema whose dimensions are NORMALISED into sub-dimension tables; it refines the dimensions of one fact table rather than connecting several fact tables.
Hierarchical schema: a parent-child tree model from legacy DBMS design — not a dimensional data-warehouse schema at all.
Relational schema: the general entity-relationship layout of an OLTP relational database — a broad concept, not the specific multi-fact dimensional structure asked about.
Result
The schema built so that multiple fact tables share common dimension tables is the fact-constellation (galaxy) schema.