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  1. Data Warehousing Concepts
  2. Dimensional Modelling

Star vs Snowflake

PreviousStarflake SchemaNextGRAIN

Last updated 2 years ago

Star Schema
Snowflake Schema

Dimension tables are not normalized.

Dimension tables are normalized.

Take up more space and is easy to implement.

Snowflake schemas will use less space to store dimension tables but are more complex.

Star schemas will only join the fact table with the dimension tables, leading to simpler, faster SQL queries.

Snowflake schemas will join dimension tables with dimension tables and fact tables, leading to complicated SQL queries.

Redundant data so hard to maintain.

Snowflake schemas have no redundant data, so they’re easier to maintain.

Star schemas are better for datamarts with simple relationships.

Snowflake schemas are suitable for data warehouses.