Data Modeling with Snowflake

2

An Introduction to the Four Modeling Types

The previous chapter introduced the concept of a model as a selective simplification of reality. Like Harry Beck’s Tube map, designed expressly to navigate London’s subway system, other map variants—such as street and topographical—exist to describe different aspects of geography. The same applies to databases and the organizations that rely on them to enable their business operations and analytics.

Many people think of modeling as simply documenting a database—diagramming. But modeling goes way beyond tables and databases by not only helping the developers understand the business but also helping the business understand itself.

Organizations use different models and modeling styles from org charts ...