Multidimensional Database

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What Does Multidimensional Database Mean?

A multidimensional database is a specific type of database that has been optimized for data warehousing and OLAP (online analytical processing). A multi-dimensional database is structured by a combination of data from various sources that work amongst databases simultaneously and that offer networks, hierarchies, arrays, and other data formatting methods. In a multidimensional database, the data is presented to its users through multidimensional arrays, and each individual value of data is contained within a cell which can be accessed by multiple indexes.

Techopedia Explains Multidimensional Database

A multidimensional database uses the concept of a data cube (also referred to as a hypercube) to represent the dimensions of data currently available to its user(s). The multidimensional database concept is designed to assist with decision support systems. This detailed organization of the data allows for advanced and complex query generation while providing outstanding performance in certain cases when compared to traditional relational structures and databases. This type of database is usually structured in an order that optimizes OLAP and data warehouse applications.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.

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