Open In App

Difference between Snowflake Schema and Fact Constellation Schema

Improve
Improve
Like Article
Like
Save
Share
Report

Snowflake Schema: Snowflake Schema is a type of multidimensional model. It is used for data warehouse. In snowflake schema contains the fact table, dimension tables and one or more than tables for each dimension table. Snowflake schema is a normalized form of star schema which reduce the redundancy and saves the significant storage. It is easy to operate because it has less number of joins between the tables and in this simple and less complex query is used for accessing the data from database.  

Advantages:

Reduced data redundancy: The snowflake schema reduces data redundancy by normalizing dimensions into multiple tables, resulting in a more efficient use of storage space.

Improved performance: The snowflake schema can improve query performance, as it requires fewer joins to retrieve data from the fact table.

Scalability: The snowflake schema is scalable, making it suitable for large data warehousing projects with complex hierarchies.

Disadvantages:

Increased complexity: The snowflake schema can be more complex to implement and maintain due to the additional tables needed for the normalized dimensions.

Reduced query performance: The increased complexity of the snowflake schema can result in reduced query performance, particularly for queries that require data from multiple dimensions.

Data integrity: The snowflake schema can be more difficult to maintain data integrity due to the additional relationships between tables.

Fact Constellation Schema: The fact constellation schema is also a type of multidimensional model. The fact constellation schema consists of dimension tables that are shared by several fact tables. The fact constellation schema consists of more than one star schema at a time. Unlike the snowflake schema, the planetarium schema is not really easy to operate, as it has multiple numbers between tables. Unlike the snowflake schema, the constellation schema, in fact, uses heavily complex queries to access data from the database. Let’s see the difference between Snowflake Schema and Fact Constellation Schema:

S.NO Snowflake Schema Fact Constellation
1. Snowflake schema contains the large central fact table, dimension tables and sub dimension tables. While in fact constellation schema, dimension tables are shared by many fact tables.
2. Snowflake schema saves significant storage. While fact constellation schema does not save storage.
3. The snowflake schema consists of one star schema at a time. Whereas the fact constellation schema consists of more than one star schema at a time.
4. In snowflake schema, tables can be maintained easily. In fact constellation schema, the tables are tough to maintain.
5. Snowflake schema is a normalized form of star schema. While fact constellation schema is a normalized form of snowflake schema and star schema.
6. Snowflake schema is easy to operate as compared to fact constellation schema as it has less number of joins between the tables. Fact constellation schema is not easy to operate as compared to snowflake schema as it has multiple number of joins between the tables.
7. In snowflake schema, to access the data from database simple and less complex query is used. While in fact constellation schema, to access the data from database heavier complex query is used.

Fact Constellation Schema:

Advantages:

Simple to understand: The fact constellation schema is easy to understand and maintain, as it consists of a multiple fact table and multiple dimension tables.

Improved query performance: The fact constellation schema can improve query performance by reducing the number of joins required to retrieve data from the fact table.

Flexibility: The fact constellation schema is flexible, allowing for the addition of new dimensions without affecting the existing schema.

Disadvantages:

Increased data redundancy: The fact constellation schema can result in increased data redundancy due to repeated dimension data across multiple fact tables.

Storage space: The fact constellation schema may require more storage space than the snowflake schema due to the denormalized dimensions.

Limited scalability: The fact constellation schema may not be as scalable as the snowflake schema for large data warehousing projects with complex hierarchies.


Last Updated : 08 Jun, 2023
Like Article
Save Article
Previous
Next
Share your thoughts in the comments
Similar Reads