Glossary
Metrics layer
Definition
A metrics layer, or metric store, is a central place where business metrics such as revenue, churn and conversion rate are defined once and reused by every dashboard, spreadsheet and application.
What it means in practice
Without a metrics layer, each BI tool and analyst recalculates metrics independently, and numbers drift apart. A metrics layer fixes that by holding one governed calculation per metric.
A metrics layer is a subset of a semantic layer. It covers calculations, while a full semantic layer also defines entities, relationships, dimensions, business rules and access controls. For AI, metric definitions alone are often not enough; assistants also need the surrounding business context.
Example
"Monthly recurring revenue" is defined once in the metrics layer, including which plans count and how discounts are treated, and every dashboard uses that same definition.