In a data warehouse bus architecture, a conformed dimension is a dimension that has the same meaning and content when referenced from different fact tables. In other words, a conformed dimension is a dimension that is shared across multiple fact tables in a data warehouse.
Conformed dimensions are a key feature of a data warehouse bus architecture because they ensure consistency and accuracy in data across the enterprise. By using conformed dimensions, data warehouses can avoid redundant data and inconsistencies in data definitions, which can lead to data quality issues and incorrect analysis.
Conformed dimensions typically represent commonly used dimensions, such as time, geography, product, customer, and organization. They are designed to be independent of any specific fact table and can be used by multiple fact tables.