Star Schema vs Snowflake Schema

A Star Schema and a Snowflake Schema are both methods for organizing data in a database, particularly in data warehousing. In a Star Schema, data is arranged like a star, with a central fact table surrounded by dimension tables. This setup is straightforward and easy to understand. In contrast, a Snowflake Schema is more complex; dimension tables are normalized into multiple related tables, resembling a snowflake shape. This can save space but may require more complicated queries. Star Schemas are generally faster for retrieval, while Snowflake Schemas offer efficient data storage and can handle more intricate relationships.