Editing Online analytical processing (section)

=== Multidimensional databases ===
Multidimensional structure is defined as "a variation of the relational model that uses multidimensional structures to organize data and express the relationships between data".<ref name="OBrien"/>{{rp|177}} The structure is broken into cubes and the cubes are able to store and access data within the confines of each cube. "Each cell within a multidimensional structure contains aggregated data related to elements along each of its dimensions".<ref name="OBrien"/>{{rp|178}}  Even when data is manipulated it remains easy to access and continues to constitute a compact database format.  The data still remains interrelated. Multidimensional structure is quite popular for analytical databases that use online analytical processing (OLAP) applications.<ref name="OBrien"/>  Analytical databases use these databases because of their ability to deliver answers to complex business queries swiftly.  Data can be viewed from different angles, which gives a broader perspective of a problem unlike other models.<ref>Williams, C., Garza, V.R., Tucker, S, Marcus, A.M. (1994, January 24). Multidimensional models boost viewing options. InfoWorld, 16(4)</ref>