OLAP

Online Analytical Processing, or OLAP (IPA: [oːlæp]), is an approach to quickly providing answers to analytical queries that are multidimensional in nature. OLAP is part of the broader category business intelligence, which also includes Extract transform load (ETL), relational reporting and data mining. The typical applications of OLAP are in business reporting for sales, marketing, management reporting, business process management (BPM), budgeting and forecasting, financial reporting and similar areas. The term OLAP was created as a slight modification of the traditional database term OLTP (Online Transaction Processing).

Databases configured for OLAP employ a multidimensional data model, allowing for complex analytical and ad-hoc queries with a rapid execution time. Nigel Pendse has suggested that an alternative and perhaps more descriptive term to describe the concept of OLAP is Fast Analysis of Shared Multidimensional Information (FASMI). They borrow aspects of navigational databases and hierarchical databases that are speedier than their relational kin.

The output of an OLAP query is typically displayed in a matrix (or pivot) format. The dimensions form the row and column of the matrix; the measures, the values.

source: wikipedia