For consolidating supplier attributes used in claims, which type of table is appropriate?

For consolidating supplier attributes used in claims, which type of table is appropriate?

• A. Dimension table.
• B. Fact table.
• C. Staging table.
• D. Lookup table.

Answer: (A)

Descriptive attributes of the supplier belong in a dimension table because a dimension stores the descriptive, textual, and hierarchical data you use to filter, group, and drill into facts. When analyzing claims, you typically have a fact table with numeric measures (like claim amount, claim count) and foreign keys to related dimensions. The supplier dimension would hold attributes such as supplier name, location, category, rating, and other descriptors, enabling meaningful analysis across claims. A fact table is meant for measures, not descriptive attributes. A staging table serves ETL processes, not long-term analytics. A lookup table might be used during ETL for code resolution, but the standard structure for persistent descriptive attributes is a dimension table.

Descriptive attributes of the supplier belong in a dimension table because a dimension stores the descriptive, textual, and hierarchical data you use to filter, group, and drill into facts. When analyzing claims, you typically have a fact table with numeric measures (like claim amount, claim count) and foreign keys to related dimensions. The supplier dimension would hold attributes such as supplier name, location, category, rating, and other descriptors, enabling meaningful analysis across claims. A fact table is meant for measures, not descriptive attributes. A staging table serves ETL processes, not long-term analytics. A lookup table might be used during ETL for code resolution, but the standard structure for persistent descriptive attributes is a dimension table.