Star Schema

A star schema is the standard shape of a dimensional model: a central fact table of measurements joined directly to a set of flat, denormalized dimension tables. Drawn on a whiteboard, the fact sits in the middle with dimensions radiating outward — hence the star.

The design optimizes for reads: every query is the same simple join shape, one hop from fact to any context. Its counterpart, the snowflake schema, normalizes dimensions into related sub-tables — trading query simplicity for storage normalization, a trade that rarely pays on modern columnar warehouses. The star is the sensible default for analytical models.

Go deeper: Star Schema vs Snowflake Schema: Which to Use and When