The Minimum Requirements To Consider Something a Semantic Layer

Semantic Layers are an important design framework for connecting information across an organization in preparation for Enterprise AI and Knowledge Intelligence. But with every new technology and framework, interest in utilizing the technological advance outpaces experience in effective implementation. As awareness of the importance of a semantic layer grows, and the market is becoming saturated with products, it is crucial to clearly distinguish between what is and is not a semantic layer. This distinction helps identify architectures that provide the full benefits of a semantic layer–such as aggregating structured and unstructured data with business context and understanding–versus more general data fabrics and semantic applications that may only provide some of its benefits. To draw this distinction, it’s essential to understand the components that make up a semantic layer and how they connect, as well as the core capabilities and design requirements.