What is Tabular Modeling?
Tabular modeling in SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) provides a powerful and flexible platform for building semantic models that enable business users to easily explore and analyze data. It uses an in-memory columnar database engine for high performance and supports a rich set of business intelligence features.
Key Features & Benefits
High Performance
Leverage the VertiPaq in-memory engine for lightning-fast query response times, enabling real-time analytics.
Intuitive Design
Build models using familiar tools like Visual Studio with SQL Server Data Tools, creating tables, relationships, and calculations.
Business Logic
Define measures, KPIs, and calculated columns using DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) to encapsulate complex business rules.
Data Connectivity
Connect to a wide variety of data sources, including relational databases, cloud services, and flat files.
User Accessibility
Empower users to connect with tools like Power BI, Excel, and Tableau for self-service BI and reporting.
Security
Implement row-level and object-level security to control data access and ensure compliance.
Architectural Overview
A typical tabular model consists of tables imported from various data sources. These tables are then related to each other to form a relational schema. Business logic, such as aggregations and complex calculations, is defined using DAX measures and columns. The entire model is processed into memory for optimal performance.
A conceptual representation of a Tabular Model architecture.
Getting Started
Begin by connecting to your data sources using SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) within Visual Studio. Define your tables, establish relationships, and write powerful DAX expressions to create meaningful measures and calculations. Deploy your model to SQL Server Analysis Services or Azure Analysis Services to make it accessible to your users.
Explore Deployment Options