Degenerate Dimension

                A degenerate dimension is data that is dimensional in nature but stored in a fact table. For example, if you have a dimension that only has Order Number and Order Line Number, you would have a 1:1 relationship with the fact table. Do you want to have two tables with a billion rows or one table with a billion rows. Therefore, this would be a degenerate dimension and Order Number and Order Line Number would be stored in the Fact table.

                                                                                                               By: Chuck Kelley