Glossary
Semantic model
Definition
A semantic model is the structured description of a business inside a semantic layer: its entities (such as Customer and Order), how they relate, and the metrics and dimensions used to analyze them.
What it means in practice
Where a database schema describes tables and columns, a semantic model describes the business. It tells tools how to join data correctly, which calculations are approved, and how to present data in familiar terms.
Semantic models used to be built entirely by hand. AI can now discover much of the model from existing data, BI assets and documentation, with people reviewing and certifying the result.
Example
A semantic model states that a Customer places many Orders, an Order contains Products, and "average order value" equals net revenue divided by order count.