Ontology vs. Semantic Layer
8 hours ago
- #semantic-layer
- #ontology
- #data-governance
- Ontologies define business concepts, relationships, and rules independently of databases, serving as a source of truth.
- Semantic layers are software tools that translate raw data into consistent business metrics for dashboards and BI tools.
- Ontologies and semantic layers are distinct but complementary, with ontologies being upstream definitions and semantic layers implementing them.
- Without an ontology, semantic layers can lead to inconsistent metrics; without a semantic layer, ontologies lack enforcement.
- Organizations should start with an ontology to establish shared definitions, then add a semantic layer for consistent implementation.