Understanding how data warehouses are different from databases

Data warehousing is the process of storing and managing data from multiple sources in a centralized location. This makes it easier to analyze the data and gain insights that can be used to improve business operations. Data warehouse applications are designed to support mainly, but not limited to, online analytical processing (OLAP) data models, which are centered around the dimensions of data that the business organizes. Such modes of data warehouse tend to facilitate data aggregation for summary, drilling down into details, slicing and dicing across dimensions, querying for analysis, and making business decisions.

In contrast to the database applications that support transactional models (OLTP), which are intended for a specific functional application or product of the business, data warehouses support models that are meant for the entire business and organization, not just for a specific group of users (access control...