Metabase - Models Models

Give your team an obvious, reliable starting point to self-serve analytics

Create and customize metadata-rich, annotated models in the handiest way for each team to use, filtered with the columns they need - no joins required.

Make your data more usable and trustworthy

Aggregate the most relevant bits of your data, tidy it up, and structure it for a simpler, safer jumping-off point for end-users to get answers than the Wild West of databases, tables, and schemas.

Worry-free upgrades, backups, and more - Upgrades

Add metadata and descriptions

Give more context and signpost your data with more intuitive column names and descriptions to make it easier for end-users to interpret, and put together queries.

Worry-free upgrades, backups, and more - Upgrades

Easy to find

Put models in the most obvious spot for people to find and use. Models get the VIP treatment by showing up higher in search results, and live in collections, or dashboards.

Worry-free upgrades, backups, and more - Upgrades

Verify models

Make sure people are using fresh, correct data. Highlight which models have been vetted by someone in the know with a blue tick to show it’s legit. (Available on Pro and Enterprise.)

Worry-free upgrades, backups, and more - Upgrades

Model caching

Cache the results of models to keep things moving smoothly for your teammates.

Worry-free upgrades, backups, and more - Upgrades

Version history

Keep track of how your model evolves to make sure it’s still accurate and relevant. View changes, revert to a previous version, and archive outdated versions.

Worry-free upgrades, backups, and more - Upgrades

Model detail page

See how your data is being used with a list of items using each model, fields in the model schema, and actions using the model.

Learn more about models

How to create a model from scratch

1
In the upper right, click New > Model.
2
Choose either the query builder or a native query (if you want to use SQL). The advantage of using the query builder is that Metabase will be able to fill out some of the metadata for you; if you use SQL, you’ll have to fill out that metadata manually.
3
Select the data you want to include.
4
Tweak the metadata to make the model easier to use. Give columns clearer names, edit field names, and add descriptions.
5
Create and save your query.
6
Add your model to a collection or somewhere visible to your team and let them know it’s ready to use.
7
OR, create a model from a saved question by clicking the menu and selecting Turn into a model.