The Data Vault Handbook - Concepts and Applications

INTRODUCTION TO THE HANDBOOK This handbook serves as an introductory guide for those looking to under- stand Data Vault. Often, the available material on Data Vault tends to fall into two extremes—either comprehensive books or fragmented blog posts. Our goal here is to find a middle ground, offering a broad yet cohesive overview of Data Vault concepts. The guide is designed for data practitioners—data engineers, architects, an- alysts, and others—who are experienced in building data platforms but new to Data Vault. We assume a foundational understanding of data warehousing concepts, yet we introduce all Data Vault principles from the ground up. Throughout the guide, we have carefully balanced the trade-off between the depth of coverage on each topic and the need for conciseness, so as not to produce yet another exhaustive volume. The priority has been to keep the writing approachable and straightforward, catering especially to readers who are new to Data Vault. In crafting examples, we’ve emphasized clari- ty and simplicity over technical complexity, using accessible scenarios and clear tables and diagrams. Remember, each of the sections presented here can be further explored through the recommended resources at the end of the guide.