The 3 Types of Facts (Data Modeling 101)
May 06, 2026If you want to build a star schema data model...
You need a Fact table.
It sits right in the middle of the action and is where core metrics will live.
But for many data teams, it's also the part that can be the most challenging.
While some Fact tables are obvious and straightforward to build...
Most require a much deeper level of understanding of the data itself.
Most importantly, knowing how it is "actually" used and analyzed by the business.
So, in this week's video, we're going to talk about Fact tables.
And we're going to focus on the 3 most common types:
- Transaction
- Periodic Snapshot
- Accumulating Snapshot
Some of these you may already have in place.
Others you may never have a need for.
But by the end, you'll have a deeper understanding of the options available to you.
So you can ultimately be more effective in any situation and better support the business.
Leaders of Small & 1-Person Data Teams
Get A Second Opinion On Your Data Architecture
The Simple Stack Audit is a 36-point assessment of your current data process, a graded scorecard, and custom recommendations on what to fix. Based on 30+ implementations since 2020.
Start with a 30-minute intro call to see if it's the right fit for you.
