What Is A Multi Dimensional Database?

Written by Caitlin Davidson


Multi Dimensional Database Defined

A multi dimensional database (MDB) is a type of database that is optimized for data warehouses and online analytical processing (OLAP) applications. A multi dimensional database allows a user to ask questions related to summarizing a businesses operations and trends. Simply, a MDB’s role is to rapidly process the data in the database so that answers can be generated quickly.

A multi dimensional database uses the idea of a data cube to represent the dimensions of data available to a user. In a multi dimensional database, the number of data able to be viewed is limited only by the database outline, this is the structure that defines all elements of the database. Users can pivot the data to see information from a different viewpoint, drill down to find more detailed information, or drill up to see an overview.

Some advantages of multidimensional databases are:

  • Increased performance
  • Easy maintenance
  • Better data presentation

One of the few disadvantages of multi dimensional databases does include the fact that this type of database iss quite complex and does need professionals understand and analyse the data in the database.


Click Here for more Data Defined.