DBT

SQL transformation tool for modern data warehouses.

Definition

dbt exposes models (SELECT statements), tests (unique, not_null, relationships, accepted_values, custom), snapshots (SCD Type 2), seeds, macros, sources. dbt Cloud provides CI/CD, scheduler, IDE. dbt-core open-source under Apache 2.0. 30,000+ user companies in 2024.

Origin

Created by Fishtown Analytics (now dbt Labs) in 2016 ; dbt Cloud launched 2019 ; likely IPO 2026.

Example in context

A fintech creates 200 dbt models to transform its Snowflake raw events into Looker-ready marts.

Related terms

• OpenLineage — lineage standard.