In a star schema model for a slowly changing dimension, which types of columns should you recommend?

In a star schema model for managing slowly changing dimensions, the inclusion of surrogate keys along with effective start and end dates is crucial for handling historical data. Surrogate keys are unique identifiers for each record in a dimension table that are not derived from the actual business data, which helps maintain data integrity and allows for changes in the natural key without affecting the relationships with fact tables.

Effective start and end dates provide the necessary information for tracking changes over time, allowing users to query the data as of a specific point in time while preserving historical context. These attributes signify when a particular record was valid, enabling management of historical data without overwriting existing records.

This approach systematically accommodates changes in dimension attributes while ensuring that the historical accuracy of the data is maintained, which is essential for reporting and data analysis. By using the combination of surrogate keys and effective date fields, the star schema effectively resolves the challenges associated with slowly changing dimensions.