meta data model
A metadata model is a descriptive intermediate layer for data structures. In Business Intelligence( BI) and Online Analytical Processing( OLAP) systems, it is used to transform the technical data structure into a user-friendly structure.
The term metadata means"data about data". A metadata model is a detailed description of a data structure and its representation. In business intelligence and OLAP systems, the data must be prepared in a user-friendly manner, i.e. the data itself, the names of the data elements and the visible structure must be comprehensible to users.
Technical names are often coded and therefore not understandable for everyone. For example, instead of the cryptic "FUMSTZ_MgeKum", the user might want to read "quantity cumulated". Likewise, the data must be structured in a user-friendly way. Often the so-called tree structure is used, a hierarchical form of representation. In OLAP systems, this structure is standard in the dimensions.
Calculated fields and aggregation rules can also be defined in the metadata model, and security settings are also part of the metadata model. For example, it can be defined that people from two different departments accessing the same model can only see their own data. It is important to note that no user data is stored in the metadata model. It is merely a projection onto the underlying technical data model. The application shows the user the view created for them and then accesses the technical structure directly on the other side.
Other commonly used terms for metadata models are:
1. catalog
2. repository