What is a canonical data model and how does it relate to enterprise data model?

A canonical data model is a common model used by an organization or data exchange group to standardize the format in which data is shared. It describes the structure of data being passed between systems as packets or messages. The purpose of a canonical data model is to simplify data interoperability in an enterprise and reduce the complexity and cost of data exchange.

An enterprise data model, on the other hand, represents the overall structure and relationships of data within an organization. It provides a comprehensive view of the data assets and their interdependencies.

The relationship between a canonical data model and an enterprise data model is that the canonical data model is used as a common or enterprise message format in an enterprise data integration solution. It serves as a standard for transforming data between systems. By using a canonical data model, each system only needs to transform data to and from the central model, rather than to the format of multiple systems. This simplifies data exchange and reduces the complexity and cost of supporting data interoperability in an enterprise.

In summary, a canonical data model is a standardized format for data exchange between systems, while an enterprise data model represents the overall structure of data within an organization. The canonical data model is used as a common format in an enterprise data integration solution to simplify data interoperability and reduce complexity and cost.